Category Archives: Historic

From Villages to Flats (Part 1) – The Kampong Days

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Remember Singapore

The rapid urbanisation of Singapore in the past four decades has seen hundreds of villages demolished and the lands freed up for redevelopment. The life of many Singaporeans of the last generation changed dramatically as they shifted from their kampong … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural, Historic | Tagged Ama Keng, Amoy Quee, Bah Soon Bah, Boh Beh Kang, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Timah Road, Chai Chee, Chan Chu Kang, Changi Village, Cheng San, Chia Keng, Choa Chu Kang, Chong Pang, Geylang Serai, Hakka Village, Heap Guan San, Heng Ley Pah, Hong Kah, Jackson Plan, Jalan Kayu, Jalan Mata Ayer, Jawa Teban, Kampong Bahru, Kampong Chantek, Kampong Glam, Kampong Kapor, Kampong Kembangan, Kampong Lorong Buangkok, Kampong Pachitan, Kampong Punggol, Kampong San Theng, Kampong Silat, Kampong Ubi, Kangchu, Kangkar, Khatib Bongsu, Lam San, Lau Chu Kang, Lim Chu Kang, Lorong Fatimah, Mandai Tekong, Nee Soon, Neo Tiew, Orang Seletar, Paya Lebar, Phua Village, Potong Pasir, Pulau Blakang Mati, Pulau Brani, Pulau Bukom, Pulau Semakau, Pulau Tekong, Pulau Ubin, Radin Mas, Simpang Bedok, Somapah Changi, Sompah Bedok, Soon Hock Village, Sungei Mandai, Sungei Seletar, Sungei Tengah, Tan Chu Kang, Tanjong Katong, Thong Hoe, Toa Payoh, Tuas Village, Ulu Bedok, Wak Hassan, Wak Selat, Westhill Village, Woodlands, Yew Tee, Yio Chu Kang | 275 Comments

A Forgotten Past – A Zoo at Punggol

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Remember Singapore

Contrary to popular belief, our famous Singapore Zoological Gardens (or Mandai Zoo), opened in 1973, was not the first zoo in Singapore. It is the first and only national zoo, but before it, there were already several private zoos operating … Continue reading →

Posted in Exotic, Historic | Tagged Chan Kim Suan, Mandai Zoo, Ponggol Zoo, Singapore Miniature Zoo, Singapore Zoological Gardens, Whampoa Gardens, William Lawrence Soma Basapa | 26 Comments

A Forgotten Past – The Last Royal Palace of Singapore

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Remember Singapore

Do you know that the former royal family of Singapore existed until the late nineties? They had lived at Istana Kampong Glam (also known as Sultan’s Palace) for generations until the Istana was drawn for redevelopment into the Malay Heritage … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Abu Bakar, Istana Bidadari, Istana Kampong Glam, Istana Lama, Istana Negara Singapura, Istana Tyersall, Istana Woodneuk, Jementah Civil War, Sultan Hussien Ordinance, Sultan of Singapore, Temenggong, Yang di-Pertuan Negara | 120 Comments

Grand Mansions, Bungalows and Villas of the Past

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Remember Singapore

The grand mansions and villas of yesteryear might not match the likes of the modern houses owned by the rich and famous today at Nassim Road, Ridley Park, Bukit Timah or Sentosa Cove, but they certainly had their charms in … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Alkaff Mansion, Art Deco, Atbara House, Beaulieu House, Bedok Rest House, Butterfly House, Chee Guan Chiang, Chek Jawa House, Colonial House, Eu Villa, Gedung Kuning, Golden Bell Mansion, Haw Par Villa, House of Jade, Hurricane House, India House, Karikal Mahal, Lim Chu Kang Pier, Manasseh Meyer, Matilda House, Mount Emily, Mountbatten Road, neo-Renaissance, Old Admiralty House, Oxley Road, River House, Sea Breeze Lodge, Seletar Camp, Spring Grove, Sri Temasek, St Patrick's Road, Sun Yat Sen Villa, Tan Chin Tuan, Tan Teng Niah, Tan Yeok Nee, Tanjong Katong Villa, Tyersall House, Villa Haji Kahar, Wesley House, Whampoa House | 207 Comments

4D, Mahjong and Chap Ji Kee.. History of Gambling in Singapore

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Remember Singapore

With the completion of the Integrated Resorts (IRs) and its casinos in 2010, some said that Singapore had truly become a sin city. While they might be right, the fact is gambling has never been a stranger on this island. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cultural, Historic | Tagged 4D, Beh Bio, Chap Ji Kee, China Street, Cho Dai-D, Dale Carnegie Club, Farrer Park, Formula One, Genting Highlands, Giao Keng Kau, Integrated Resorts, Konan Saiken, Leisure World, National Trades Union Congress, Papadopov Nikolai, S-League, Si Sek Pai, Singapore Mahjong, Singapore Pools, Singapore Turf Club, The Singapore Sweep, Toto | 16 Comments

A Forgotten Past – The Days When Singapore Mafia Ruled Europe

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Remember Singapore

Mention underworld triads and Japan’s Yakuza or Italian Mafia comes to mind. But there was an era when the Singapore gangsters ruled Europe with a vast drug empire that struck fear into the hearts of their enemies. Kampung Kid turned … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Ah Kong, Dragon Head, Mr Big, Pek Kim Leng, Roland Tan Tong Meng, Singapore 1970s | 28 Comments

Money Never Sleeps – A Brief History of Banking in Singapore

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Remember Singapore

As a well-known international financial hub, there are over 100 banks in Singapore, including six local banks, 24 foreign banks, 40 wholesale banks and 42 offshore banks. Since the liberalisation of the banking sector by the Singapore government in 2001, … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Bank of Singapore, Chung Khiaw Bank, Development Bank of Singapore, Industrial & Commercial Bank, Keppel Bank, Kwong Yik Bank, Lee Wah Bank, Oversea-Chinese Bank Corporation, Overseas Union Bank, Post Office Savings Bank, Sze Hai Tong Bank, Tat Lee Bank, United Overseas Bank | 10 Comments

A Forgotten Past – Vietnamese Boat People in Singapore

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Remember Singapore

Not many Singaporeans remember this history, but there was a Vietnamese refugee camp that had existed for almost two decades at 25 Hawkins Road of Sembawang . In 1975, North Vietnam invaded the south and captured Saigon, reuniting the country … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic | Tagged Hawkins Road, Operation Thunderstorm, Refugee Camp, Republic of Singapore Navy, Vietnam War, Vietnamese Boat People | 122 Comments

Headlines that shook Singapore (since 1955)

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Remember Singapore

Below is a collection of some of the biggest news headlines that shook the Singapore society since 1955, when Singapore was given self-governance (Extending the timeline from the previous version of “1970 to Present”). The headlines are categorised into Social … Continue reading →