Radin Mas - Urban Redevelopment Authority

A TALE OF HILLS
Radin Mas
– HERITAGE TRAIL
A note from the MP
Radin Mas is a beautiful place that
combines the old rustic charm with
modern feel. We have many interesting
places like the grand dame SIT flats,
the culturally-rich black-and-white
colonial houses, the tranquil Carmelite
Monastery and the new kid on the
block – The Henderson Waves Bridge.
This heritage is very much alive and
wanting to capture its essence comes
very naturally to us. The Trail Book is
our way of preserving the history and
heritage. We wish to showcase the
unique appeal of Radin Mas and make
it easy for everyone to appreciate and
understand. I invite you to turn the next
few pages and embark on a discovery
journey.
Sam Tan
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC
Contents
Kampong Radin Mas
Black and White Bungalows
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque
Tomb of Raden Mas Ayu, Tanah Kubur Diraja Mount Faber
02
04
06
08
10
Bukit Purmei
Carmelite Monastery
Tang Gak Beo (The Eastern Hell Temple)
St Teresa Church
14
16
18
20
Thousand Buddha Hill
Henderson Waves
Telok Blangah Hill
22
24
26
Bukit Merah
Zhen Long Gong
21 Blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats
Bukit Merah Central
28
30
32
34
Map of Trail
Editorial Committee & Acknowledgement
36
37
Golden Villages
Kampong Radin Mas
K
ampong Radin Mas was a small
Malay village situated on the foothills
of Mount Faber in Telok Blangah. In its
location now are a condominium and the
Telok Blangah Rise HDB estate.
Mr Wan Hussein, an ex resident of
Kampong Radin Mas
still remembers the big
field and old Radin Mas
Primary School that were
located at the foot of
Mount Faber. Students
would play soccer at the
field after school everyday
as this was the main pastime. During the
school’s sports day, the whole kampong
would join in to support their children.
Mr Hussein adds, “Radin Mas Primary
School has moved to its present site at Bukit
Purmei in 1984. My kampong and childhood
can only remain in my memory and this sense
of longing is especially strong every time I pass
by Mount Faber and the remaining colonial
bungalows.”
Mr Hussein’s sister,
Madam Wan Fatimah also
recalls the days when her
family were staying in the
kampong.
Open field at Kampong Radin Mas
At night, the field would be
transformed into an open air theatre
where everyone would gather and pay
10 cents to watch movies. This was the
only entertainment for the residents then.
There was also a Chinese provision shop
located near the main road. It served as
a gathering and information exchange
point for the residents as news were passed
around quickly there.
Old Radin Mas Primary School
Kampong Radin Mas
Old picture of Marang tombs
Malay village at Kampong Radin Mas
“All Malay kampong houses were built
on stilts, unlike the Chinese houses that sat
on land and we drew our water from wells
in the kampong. Neighbours staying at the
kampong were very friendly and we took care
of one another. There was no need to lock
the doors as compared to now as everyone
knew that their neighbours would help
to look after their houses during their
absence. There was community spirit and
everyone lived harmoniously together,
regardless of races.” ¤
Old picture of Telok Blangah estate taken from Mount Faber
o
j
Art Houses
Black and White Bungalows
W
ith its rich heritage and lush
greenery, the Radin Mas
neighbourhood was a popular area for the
rich to build their homes in the mid 20th
century.
Black-and-white houses were the rage
among the European immigrants between
1930 and 1960, characterised by their
black timbers and white infill panels.
The style was developed in the 1920s to
the 1930s in Europe and the United States
and was adopted by the colonial migrants
when they set up home on this island.
These double-storied bungalows
exhibit the characteristics of the Art Deco
style – simple, geometric lines of classical
A typical double-storied
bungalow in the old days
motifs on the facades. They were built
with reinforced concrete frames and more
traditional timber floor boards on timber
joists. Other defining features include a broad,
Black And White Bungalows
“It is always my dream to live in a black-and-white
house, and this one embodies my perception of living
in a colonial bungalow. And where else can you live in
a place visited every so often by the insects and the
wildlife – monkeys, snakes and toads? I love the nature.”
Ms Fen Tonge, who moved into one of
the houses with her family two years ago
simple, over-hanging hipped roof and sharp
definition of openings in the plain white walls.
To maximise air and shade, they were
built with verandahs, louvered balustrades,
air vents and deep eaves. The effect is a clean,
uncluttered space of luxurious living.
Today, because of their unique architecture
and history, these houses are gazetted by
the Urban Redevelopment Authority as
heritage buildings, and are mostly rented by
expatriates. ¤
Address: 10 Mount Faber Road
Nearest MRT Station:
Harbour Front MRT
Nearest bus stop:
10, 30, 65, 80, 85, 97, 100, 131, 143,
145, 166, 507, 176, 188, 61, 855, 963
(Alight at bus stop opposite Vivo City)
Residence of
the Temenggong
Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque
I
t is hard to miss this whitewashed
building with jade green roofs opposite
VivoCity on Telok Blangah
Road. The mosque, built
in 1890, is named after the
chief of Singapore, Johor
and Riau in the late 19th
century. When Stamford
Raffles returned to
Singapore in 1824 for his
second visit, Temenggong
Daeng Ibrahim signed the
treaty with him to cede
Singapore to the British
empire.
As Raffles had plans
to develop the area around Singapore
River, where the Temenggong and his
subjects had settled, he convinced the
royal family to move to Telok Blangah.
Others, including Arab and Indonesian
immigrants, followed, and the area grew into
a Malay enclave.
The mosque, now managed
by the Johor government, used
to be the reception hall of the
Temenggong’s residence. It
remains as a gathering place
during Friday prayers, when
hundreds of Muslims gather for
religious lectures and blessings.
Within the sprawling
compounds lies the Johor’s
Royal Mausoleum, where
Temenggongs and their
followers in the 19th century
are buried wrapped in royal
yellow cloth. It is the resting place of many
rulers, including Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim,
who died in 1862, and his father Temenggong
Abdul Rahman, who died in 1825.
For the more adventurous, trek through
Temmenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque
Fast facts
Telok Blangah was also known as
Kampung Temenggong because of the
resettlement of the Temenggong and
his followers to the area. The village
slowly fell in shambles after families of
the Temenggong uprooted and moved to
Johor Baru in 1864.
the nearby forest along Marang Road to find
another Muslim cemetery, abandoned for
many years. Rediscovered only accidentally by
a group of trekkers in early 2008, only parts of
a brick wall that fenced the cemetery remain.
The several dozens of tombs are believed
to be the final resting place for the inhabitants
of Kampong Marang, forgotten after a big
fire. ¤
Address: 30 Telok Blangah Road
Opening Hours: Daily 5.50am – 10pm
Nearest MRT Station:
Harbour Front MRT
Nearest bus stop:
10, 30, 65, 80, 85, 97, 100, 131, 143,
145, 166, 507, 176, 188, 61, 855, 963
(Alight at bus stop opposite Vivo City)
The Royal Malay
Archipelago Tombs
Tomb of Raden Mas Ayu
S
ome say that Radin Mas got its name
from the Princess who rests now under
the historical tomb at the foot of Mount
Faber.
The beautiful and tragic tale of
Javanese princess Raden Mas Ayu began in
the 16th century. She was the daughter of
a king and a Javanese court dancer, whose
beauty was renowned throughout Java.
Their marriage was objected by the king’s
parents, who deemed the dancer too lowly
to wed the king. When the king was away
for a hunting expedition, his palace was set
on fire, killing his wife. Heartbroken, the
king moved to Singapore with his princess
and settled down in Telok Blangah.
The king remarried a daughter of a
Temenggong in Singapore but the new
wife was jealous of the close relationship
between the king and Princess Raden
Mas Ayu. It did not help that the princess
inherited the beauty of her mother. The
new wife forced her stepdaughter to marry
an evil Tengku. On their wedding day,
the groom attacked the princess’ father.
To defend her father, Princess Raden Mas
Ayu was stabbed by the Tengku’s kris and
died in 1511.
Today, the tomb is saved from disrepair
from descendents of the royal family’s
subjects. Nearby is the tomb of her father.
If you are lucky, you might meet Mr Zainol
Daeng, who is the unofficial caretaker of
the tomb since his retirement. His great
grandfather had worked for the king.
Address: Mount Faber Road
(Opposite Mount Faber Lodge Apartment)
Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 6pm
Bus at nearest bus stop:
409 Park Service
(Alight after Mount Faber Lodge
Apartment and walk)
(Park service only operate on Saturday/
Sunday/Public Holiday)
The Royal Indonesian Tombs
Tanah Kubur Diraja
About 15 minutes walk from the princess’s
resting place lies another royal graveyard
found among HDB blocks at Bukit Kasita
(now known as Bukit Purmei).
However, exactly who are buried
hereremains a mystery. However, the
graveyard’s name Tanah Kubur Diraja or
“Royal Family Graveyard” likely refers to the
Malay sultanate and kings during the early
16th century, who originated from Jambi, a
northern state in Sumatra.
Within the arched wall ruins of the
graveyard are tombstones wrapped in yellow
cloth – yellow being the colour of royalty.
According to some Islamic historians,
the graveyard was opened in 1530 by
Sultan Alaudin Riayat Shah the second,
who was the seventh descendent of Sultan
Iskandar Zulkarnain Shah, better known
in Singapore folklore as Sang Nila Utama.¤
Address: 532 Kampong Bahru Road
Nearest bus stop:
124 143 166 61
(Alight at bus stop outside Blk 102
Bukit Purmei Road and walk)
Hill with a View
Mount Faber
A
t 105m in height, Mount Faber
may seem rather diminutive as a
“mount”. Nonetheless, the hill, named
after Captain Charles Edward Faber,
the superintending engineer in the
Straits in the mid 19th century, offers a
spectacular view of Singapore, particularly
the towering skyscrapers in the Central
Business District. It is also the home of
Jewel Box, which houses chic restaurants,
function rooms, and a cable car station
for rides to HarbourFront and Sentosa
island.
10
Before walking
an easy 15 minute
route up to the
“peak”, stop by
the marina deck,
which offers great
photography
opportunites amid
the lush green
foliage, blue skies
and white clouds.
It was erected on
the site of a former signal station set up by
Captain Faber, who built a narrow winding
road to the summit for the station.
The station was formerly on Sentosa
(known then as Pulau Blakan Mati) before
it was moved to Mount Faber (then Tulloh
Blangah Hill). The signal Station and flagstaff
were on the hill till the early 1970s when the
government closed the station. Now in its
place is a restaurant catering mostly to tour
groups.
Mount Faber
11
Continue your journey up to Faber
Point, the highest point of Mount Faber.
Spend a few coins on the mounted
binoculars, you can see clearly the railway
station in Tanjong Pagar, the packed HDB
blocks of Queenstown and Alexandra, the
busy streets of the central business district,
and even Sentosa on the horizon. Lookout points will help identify these places.
Tourists and locals alike will also enjoy
strolling around this circular platform,
which is decorated with copper-tooled
mural panels, featuring the colourful
history and lifestyle of Singapore. A
favourite is the last panel, depicting the
food scene in Singapore, that will sure to
remind you of your appetite after the walk
up the hill. Don’t forget to take a picture
of the Merlion too, the lion-headed fishbodied emblem of Singapore tourism.
12
Mount Faber
If you are heading down from the west
side of the hill, make a visit to the Golden
Bell Mansion on Pender Road. With its
white washed walls and a tower shaped like
a Buddhist stupa, the building was once a
stopover to a famous historical figure – Dr
Sun Yat Sen.
The Chinese revolutionary leader
spent the night of Dec 11, 1911, after his
arrival from Europe, at the residence of rich
businessman Tan Boo Liat, the great-grandson
of Tan Tock Seng. Dr Sun’s wife, three
daughters and their maid also stayed there
as a layover stop while on the way to Penang
from China. After Mr Tan Boo Liat died in
Shanghai in 1934, the house was sold.
The house fuses sensibilities of colonial
and Straits Chinese architecture. Note the
star-shaped holes under the roof, a feature of
many Peranakan homes. It is now occupied
by the Danish Seaman’s Church, formed in
1985. Activities include Danish language
classes for children and adults. Members of
the church also board any visiting Danish
ships to provide amenities such as
newspapers. ¤
Address: Mount Faber Road
Nearest MRT Station:
Harbour Front MRT
(Alight at Harbour Front MRT and board
cable car at Harbour Front Tower Two,
Cable Car Station)
Nearest bus stop:
409 Park Service
(Park service only operate on Saturday/
Sunday/Public Holiday)
13
Village by the Railway
Bukit Purmei
M
r Toh Lam Huat, a
veteran journalist
and his elder brother Mr
Toh Kheng Guan recollect
their childhood spent in
the kampong.
“There was a Chinese
kampong that was home to about 300 to
500 “attap” houses and also some small
farms between the present Silat Road and
Kampong Bahru Road.
Most of the men in
my kampong worked in
Harbour Board while the
women worked in the
nearby rubber factories.
There were many English
and Chinese schools along
Kampong Bahru – Sacred Heart Boys
School, St Teresa Sino-English School (also
known as Hua Ying Primary School) and
St Teresa High School, all of which were
14
Sketch of Bukit Purmei in 1971
defunct now except for De La Salle School
which has since moved to Choa Chu Kang.
Nearby, there was a railway track leading
to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Many
children would cross the track to reach their
schools on the other side. Residents living on
both sides would also trek across to reach the
other side. It was noisy and dirty for those
Bukit Purmei
living nearby but no one was bothered by it as
it had become a part of their life. However, we
had heard of cases whereby people were hit by
trains as they were not careful when crossing
the track. In time to come, all the tracks were
fenced up to prevent further accidents. Now,
I shuddered at the thought of how dangerous
it was to walk around the track.”
Ex-resident of Nelson Road,
Mr Samiappan also reminisces
about his younger days
working at Singapore Habour
Board.
“I stayed at Nelson Road
after I started working at
Singapore Harbour Board
(replaced by Port of Singapore
Authority in 1964). The Nelson Road
residences were built for Harbour Board
Nelson Road residences
employees who were mainly Indians and
Chinese.
Most workers would walk along
Nelson Road to reach Gate 5, one of the
entrances to Harbour Board. Many push
cart hawker stalls could be found lined
up along this road, selling all sorts of
local food to the workers. As we worked
on shifts around the clock, food could
be found anytime there. In addition to
the hawker stalls, there were numerous
provision shops and a privately owned
wet market that sold daily necessities. The
entire area was alive with activities and
functioned very much like a mini town
centre.
After my retirement, Nelson Road
residences were demolished to make way
for the Keppel Distripark.” ¤
15
A Nun’s Home
Carmelite Monastery
16
Carmelite Monastery
T
ucked quietly on a hillock at Bukit Teresa
Road, this sanctuary with a beautiful
garden is the only Carmelite monastery in
Singapore. Nuns, about 20 of them who have
dedicated themselves to their faith, call the
place home, leading simple solitude lives. The
Carmelites of the Roman Catholic order has
origins that go back to 12th century Palestine.
This monastery in Singapore was founded in
1938 by a French nun named Mother Therese
Des Anges at the invitation of the Bishop
of Malacca. It was part of a Catholic village
settlement which consisted of six bungalows
and ten barrack houses for the Catholic
community
The nuns rarely go out of the grounds
barely half the size of a football field. They
spend most of their days in prayers but
make “altar bread” or communion hosts,
sew religious robes and make candles and
Christmas cards for sale through the Catholic
Welfare Service.
Visitors may also come to ask for prayers
from the nuns when the common hall of the
monastery is open to the public from 9am
to 11am and 2pm to 5pm every day, except
during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) and
Advent, which is from Dec 2 to Christmas. ¤
Address: 106 Bukit Teresa Road
Opening Hours: Church is only open
during Mass: Monday to Saturday:
6.30am, Sunday 7.30am
Nearest bus stop:
61, 124, 143, 166
(Alight at bus stop in front of the
St Teresa Church on Kampung Bahru
Road and walk)
17
Hail the Underworld
Tang Gak Beo (The Eastern Hell Temple)
18
Tang Gak Beo
H
ell is no place anyone wants to be. So a
temple, named after the biggest region
of the underworld according to Taoist beliefs,
must be a place to avoid.
In reality, Tang Gak Beo is visited by
many, as devotees make their offerings to the
ruler of the Eastern Hell for protection and
peace of mind.
Look out for the two idols of Hei Bai Wu
Chang, or the Heartless Black and White
Demons, which are a rarity in Taoist temples.
These two were guards of the Chinese Hell
whose tasks were to bring the souls of the
dead to hell for sentencing by the King of the
Hell.
However, this temple, with more than 100
years of history, is not just about the scares.
This building, which has just been renovated
in recent years, was constructed using the
ancient Chinese architectural methods – no
nails were used in the mish-mash of columns
and beams. On Sundays, you might catch
mediums performing rites for the deceased or
even wedding ceremonies between the living
and the dead.
Between the fifth and fifteen day of the
Lunar New Year, you will also find many
devotees making their offerings to Tai Sui,
a deity in the temple. It is believed that
those whose Chinese Zodiac clashes with
the Tai Sui should pray to the deity seeking
peace and good fortune throughout the
year. ¤
Address: 6 Bukit Purmei Road
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 4.45pm
(Every 1st and 15th day of the Lunar
calendar month: 6am – 4.45pm)
Nearest bus stop:
61, 124, 143, 166
(Alight at bus stop outside
St. Teresa Church and walk)
19
The White Sanctuary
St Teresa Church
T
he church, known
affectionately as
the “Little Flower”,
was officially blessed
and opened on April 7,
1929. Hailed as the first
rural Catholic church in
Singapore, it was built
with mainly the growing
Chinese Hokkien-speaking
communities in mind.
It was named after Saint
Teresa of the Child Jesus,
who was canonized in 1925 and
declared the Patroness of Foreign
Missions by the Pope in 1927.
Inspired by the RomanoByzantine design of the
Basilica of the Sacred Heart in
Paris, the church, with its allwhite domes and towers, rose
magnificently in the district
of Kampong Bahru and was
designed to accommodate 1,400
worshippers.
Visitors to the church will be
amazed by the beautifully crafted
stain glass images, installed
in 1931 at the back of the
sanctuary of the Parish Church,
which chronicles the life of the
Patron Saint, St Therese of Lisieux.
The sharp-eyed will notice a marble
plaque on the right wall of the church’s
front entrance dedicated to the memory
of Rev Monsignor Emile Joseph Mariette,
who saw to the building of the church.
20
Local priest Fr
Stephen Lee then
took over as head
of the Chinese
Catholic Mission
and led the church,
branching into
community work,
including the
building of the now
defunct St Teresa’s
High School and St
Teresa’s Orphanage.
During World War
Two, he also opened
the church’s doors
to many stranded
people from Malaya,
as well as women who sought help.
Today, the church continues the tradition
of serving Catholic seafarers – it maintains the
Stella Maris Catholic Seamen’s Mission. It is
also the only Romano-Byzantine architecture
in Singapore. ¤
St Teresa Church
Address: 510 Kampong Bahru Road
Opening Hours: Church is only open
during Mass: Weekdays: 6pm,
Saturday 5.30pm, Sunday 8.30am,
10.30am, 12.30pm, 6pm
Nearest bus stop:
61, 124, 143, 166
(Alight at bus stop in front of the
St Teresa Church on Kampung Bahru
Road and walk)
21
Tales behind the Hill
Thousand Buddha Hill
W
ashington Hill or Telok Blangah
Hill as it is currently known was
part of the Mount Faber ridge. When
the extension of Henderson Road at
Depot Road to Telok Blangah Road was
constructed in 1970s, it sliced up the
original Mount Faber ridge; one part
remained as the Mount Faber; and the
other section was renamed Telok Blangah
Hill.
Mr Woon Wee Teng, a
retired lawyer and a famous
collector of Buddhist
artifacts and antiquities,
reminisces the memories of
Telok Blangah Hill.
Thousand Buddha Temple
“Washington Hill was also known
as the Thousand Buddha Hill to locals.
It got its name from the three Buddhist
buildings found there. They were the
Thousand Buddha Temple which had
countless number of small Buddha idols
on its walls, a smaller temple down the
road and the former Alkaff mansion
which served as the World Buddhist
Society headquarters. A metal plate nailed
to a rostrum on one side of the temple
courtyard bore testimony to its illustrious
history.
22
There was also a Buddha statue on the
slope which was subsequently demolished
together with the temples when the
government acquired the land. Two idols,
one of which is a rarely seen unusual sevenheaded dragon statue, can now be found in
Nei Xue Tang, a privately owned Buddhist art
museum.”
Mdm Chia Mui Huay who used to be a
helper at World Buddhist Society remembers
fondly the legends surrounding the temple,
including the Python paying respect to the
Buddha statue and the seven-headed dragon
statue which refused to move out of the
temple, etc.
“The temple was popular with the locals
who visited it during the first and fifteen day
of the lunar month and on Vesak Day. The
temple was also promoted as an important
tourist attraction. Busloads of tourists would
arrive daily after visiting Mount Faber in the
1970s and 1980s.
Thousand Buddha Hill
Old picture of Alkaff mansion
As everyone wanted
to draw divinations at the
temple, the temple invented
an automated divination
machine called Rishi Wheel
of Fortune to manage the
high demand. The fortuneseeker would insert a 20-cent coin into the
box which caused the wheel to spin and give
a number. A paper containing the divination
based on this number could then be collected.
This is hardly seen in Singapore now.”
However,
all these could
only remain in
Mdm Chia’s
memory. Except
for the old Alkaff
mansion, the Thousand
Buddha Temple and
its legends had given
way to the beautiful
landscaped
garden. ¤
23
Overhead Wonder
Henderson Waves
A
walk from the start to the end of this
274m bridge should take only about
five minutes but people tend to take a lot
longer, because of the view it offers. At
36m above Henderson Road, Henderson
Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in
Singapore.
From dog-walkers to the elderly,
pedestrians will enjoy the scenic greens on
both sides of the bridge, a unique wave of
seven undulating “ribs” that rise and fall
under the deck like rolling waves – hence
its name. They are not for decorations;
they also serve as shelters against rain.
24
The yellow slats on the deck are made
from balau wood, an all-weather timber found
in South-east Asia. Watch out for carvings
on the slats which mark the height at various
points along the bridge.
At night, the bridge is a luminous stage of
LED lights which makes it a marvel to gaze.
Officially opened in 2008, it was built
to connect the two hills of Mount Faber
and Telok Blangah Hill, and is part of the
Southern Ridges development, a 9km chain
of greenery that also includes Kent Ridge
Park. The entire project costs the Urban
Redevelopment Authority $25.5 million. ¤
Henderson Waves
“You don’t have to travel
to other countries when
we have beautiful places
like this in Singapore.”
– Madam Mila Ahmad,
visiting the Southern Ridges
with her family
Address: Henderson Road
Nearest bus stop:
131, 145, 176, 648
(Alight at bus stop along Henderson Road,
take the staircase up to Mount Faber Park)
The wave-forms will be lit with attractive
LED light from 7pm to 2am daily, giving
the bridge an illuminative glow.
25
Of Nature and Sight
Telok Blangah Hill
T
he hill is an area steeped in history
and is home to some of nature’s flora
and fauna. Once more known for Alkaff
Mansion, a sprawling colonial white house
owned by the Alkaffs, a wealthy Arab family
who moved to Singapore in the mid 1800s,
it was used by the Japanese army during
the Japanese occupation. After the war, the
building was rented by the World Buddhist
Society as its headquarters before it was
turned into a venue for fine dining and
entertainment in 1986.
Because of its grand exterior and
beautiful terraced gardens, the Alkaff
Mansion was a popular location for
wedding photography shoots. However, the
restaurant had since closed down and the
forsaken grand mansion is all that remains
to remind us of its past.
More recently, it is known for being one
of the stopovers for the Southern Ridges, a
9km chain of greenery linking Mount Faber
and Telok Blangah Hill Park to West Coast
Park. The Hilltop Walk, a steps-free elevated
walkway on one side of Telok Blangah Hill
brings visitors through the secondary forest
before connecting to Alexandra Arch.
26
Alkaff Mansion in the 1990s
Another main feature of Telok Blangah
Hill Park is the Terrace Gardens. A popular
spot for wedding couples, it consists of a
series of semi-circular terraces located at
the top of the park. You can enjoy a breathtaking view of the surrounding city from
this point. Colourful bougainvilleas are
planted on each terrace to enhance its charm
and beauty.
Come in the morning or evening
and join the residents from the nearby
neighbourhoods for their exercises such as
Taichi and jogging. Alternatively, you can
sit back and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere
and watch the birds and butterflies in their
natural surroundings. ¤
Telok Blangah Hill
Address: Telok Blangah Green off
Henderson Road
Nearest bus stop:
131, 145, 176, 273
(Alight at bus stop along Henderson
Road and proceed on foot via Telok
Blangah Green)
57, 175,195
(Alight at Depot Road and proceed
on foot via footpath behind HDB
Blk 103A or 104C)
27
Painting the Town Red
Bukit Merah
T
he name Bukit Merah, or Red Hill in
Malay, is inspired by the red soil in the
area. Back in the 1960s, Jalan Bukit Merah
was simply a muddy rust-coloured track,
before its present reincarnation as a major
road in the west.
Two Malay legends surrounded the
Bukit Merah name. One was about a boy
who taught the local king on how to use the
trunks of banana trees to build a fence and
trap swordfishes plaguing the fishermen.
The plan worked but seeing how intelligent
the boy was, the insecure ruler was jealous,
and ordered his soldiers to kill the child.
The pursuit ended at the top of a hill and
blood spilled over the land, bathing the soil
red, and hence the name. Another version
had a happier ending – an old witch saved
Pigs rearing
28
the boy’s life by forming a fountain that
spewed blood to scare off the soldiers.
The other legend, recounted in
Serajah Melayu, a collection of Malay oral
traditions, attributed the cause of the red
soil to the blood of a holy man, who was
executed after he tried to use his magic to
impress the wife of a king.
Bukit Merah
Mr Tan Bok Seng whose
father was the kampong
head in Bukit Merah,
chooses to continue to reside
in the vicinity even after
his kampong made way for
redevelopment. Mr Tan
recalls his childhood and the life of people
living in the kampong.
“As my great grandfather owned a
vermicelli factory, we would climb up
the hill early in the morning to lay the
vermicelli on the racks and then return in
the evening to collect them when they were
dried. It was tough work then.
Preparing food for the pigs
Rearing pigs was one of the livelihoods
of the Chinese living in the kampong.
Every morning, the pig owners would
trek to other kampongs and returned with
cartloads of leftover food collected from
those households to feed their pigs. Besides
rearing pigs, there were also other kampong
dwellers who chose to work in the nearby
Hock Ann Bricks Factory and Singapore
Glass Manufacture, which are no longer
around.
Glass bottle making
As a predominantly Chinese kampong,
there were a number of Chinese temples for
worship. These temples were subsequently
re-housed in the present day temple, Zhen
Long Gong in Redhill when the kampongs
were demolished and SIT and HDB flats
built in their place.
Today, the pig farms and kampongs
are gone. Bukit Merah has become a town
central where culture, commerce, sports
as well as the commuters’ centre come
together.
Occasionally,
some older
generation still
refer to this place
as ‘Glass Factory’
and talk about
the once very
popular private bus
company, Hock
Lee. Hearing this
makes me nostalgic.” ¤
29
Harmony of Four
Zhen Long Gong
U
nder the one roof of Zhen Long
Gong at 98-T Redhill Close is a
rare harmony of four different Taoist
worshippers. Four different temples
– Jie Gu Dian, Long Shan Ting, Wan
Xian Miao and Zhen Ren Gong – are
housed in the same premises as their
original locations made way for urban
redevelopment in the late 1970s and early
1980s. The main deity worshipped is Da
Bo Gong, an important figure for the
Hokkien community.
Zhen Long Gong’s history traced
back more than 100 years ago, when a
group of young immigrants from Fujian,
China brought their deity Bao Sheng Da
Di here in 1912 to Singapore. The god,
a physician born in the Song dynasty was
worshipped for his superb medical and
healing skills.
Then, the immigrants were believed to
have only brought back the sacred robes of
the deity but not his idol as they were too
poor. Today, the robes still exist, placed in
a wrapped package in front of the statue in
the centre of the temple. ¤
30
“Our ancestors have
brought their heritage
and culture from China to
come here, and it is our
legacy now to carry it on.”
Ng Ah Hong, who has been
helping out at Zeng Long Gong
for more than 30 years
Zeng
Long
Gong
Zhen
Long
Gong
Address: 98T Redhill Close
Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 6pm
15th day of the Lunar calendar month,
5am – 6pm
Temple will extend their visiting hours to
10.30pm during festival ritual sessions.
Nearest bus stop:
14, 147, 196, 197, 855, 961
(Alight at bus stop after Bukit Merah CC
and walk)
31
Short and Stout
21 Blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats
T
hese low-rise blocks appear
diminutive among their much
taller brothers surrounding them.
Affectionately known as “Seven Storey
Houses”, the 21 blocks of flats built
under the Singapore Improvement Trust
programme – the entity before HDB was
formed – were built in the 1950s after
people were relocated from their attap
houses in Redhill. Rent was kept at $52 a
month, which was affordable only to the
middle-income group.
The astute will notice that No. 4 is
missing from the block of flats numbered
from 1 to 22. While housewives’ tales
would suggest that the number was bad
luck according to Chinese mythology,
and hence was taken away, the block was
actually demolished to make way for
roadworks.
32
During the construction of the buildings,
Henderson Hill was levelled. A market was
also built next to the blocks, serving not
only the residents but also labourers in the
mornings on the way to work at the Jurong
shipyards.
It was not until 1982, when all of the 82 units
of three-room flats were no longer rented
out and were sold to their occupants. A $1.3
million refurbishment was undertaken by
the Housing Development Board. In 1995,
a major upgrading project went underway
to update the interiors of the apartments, as
well as the surroundings to include dramatic
archways, palm-lined covered linkways and
landscaped courtyards.
21 blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats
Hock Lee Bus
Today, the flats are occupied by mostly elderly,
many are residents who have lived there for
decades. If you are paying a visit, you might
meet one of their more illustrious residents
– the eight former samsui women, or female
construction workers during Singapore’s
foundation years, who were known for their
signature red headdresses. ¤
Address: Blk 1 – 22 Redhill Close
Nearest MRT Station:
Redhill MRT
Nearest bus stop:
14, 147, 196, 197, 855, 961.
(Alight at bus stop after Bukit Merah CC)
63 (opp Blk 73) 132, 145, 32, 33, 64
(opp Redhill MRT)
33
An Estate’s Heartbeat
Bukit Merah Central
S
ince the 1930s, Bukit Merah had
slowly transformed from a hilly
kampong to a modern town. Some of the
industries located in the area gave the area
nicknames that continue to be used today
by the older generation.
For example, some referred the area
as Beehoon Pore or Vermicelli Hill as
there were at least five families who
manufactured vermicelli or clear, thin
noodles in the area in the 1950s. The
factories have since moved after the
Government developed the area into a
housing estate, but the name stuck till
today.
Another name that stuck among
the Hokkien community is Poon Saw
Pore or Rubbish hill. In the early 20th
century, the undeveloped tropical swamps
in the area were filled with the city’s
refuse. Garbage disposal factories became
common, hence the moniker.
With redevelopment and renewal,
the town is anything but the dumps now.
Bukit Merah Central has developed into a
typical town centre. Most of the essential
public facilities are in place. There are
bus interchange, schools, supermarket,
polyclinic, hawker centres, shops and
library. Regular performances are
showcased at the amphitheatre. Shops also
carry a variety of products that cater to the
everyday needs.
Surrounding this is the presence
of Spring Singapore and factories of
light industries. These help to bring
employment to the people of Bukit Merah
and businesses to the various shops and
amenities.
34
Fast facts
The earth at Bukit Merah was sticky
red clay with a lot of sandstones
and mudstones, which made it
suitable for making red bricks used
in construction. That gave rise to the
establishment of brickworks, including
Hock Ann Brickworks, which stood on
the present site of Hock San Estate.
Brickwork establishments began in
1930s. Amongst them were Hock Ann
Brickworks, which stood on the present
site of Hock San Estate, and Alexandra
Brickworks on Pasir Panjang Road.
Bukit Merah Central
Bukit Merah Central was also once the
home of Housing and Development Board
Headquarters, the two-towered building that
lay claim as an important landmark in the
district. During its heyday, many HDB staff
descended upon the hawker centres which
serve much good food during lunch break
and brought vibrancy to the estate. The HDB
has since moved from the premises. The
building is now renamed Connection One
and has become a hub for small and medium
enterprises.
These days, due to its strategic and
centralised location, Bukit Merah still remains
as one of the most sought after estate for
HDB flat buyers. ¤
Address: Bukit Merah Central
Nearest bus stop:
Bukit Merah Interchange:
5, 16, 57, 123, 131, 132, 139, 153, 167,
176, 198, 272, 273, 275, 851
Bus stop along Jalan Bukit Merah:
14, 147, 196, 197, 855, 961
(Alight at bus stop after Bukit Merah
MacDonald’s)
35
Map of the Trail
36
Editorial Committee
Advisors
Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong,
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC
Mr Lim Huan Chiang, JP, BBM,
Chairman, Radin Mas CCC
Chairman
Mr Kenny Lim
Co-Chairman
Mr Andrew Mah
Members
Ms Emily Tan, Ms Lai Tsai Yi , Ms Mabel Tan,
Ms Teo Bee Lan, Ms Tracy Tan, Mr Tan Kim Leng,
Mr Benjamin Chua, Mr Lee Sze Yong, Mr Ng Chee Wee
Acknowledgement
We would like to thank the following who have
contributed to the making of this book in every possible way.
Radin Mas Primary School
Raffles Design Institute
National Archives of Singapore
National Heritage Board
Urban Redevelopment Authority
Mr Tan Bok Seng, BBM
Mr Mohamad Ghouse Khan Surattee
Mr Woon Wee Teng
Mdm Chia Mui Huay
Ms Fen Tonge
Mr Samiappan
Mr Toh Lam Huat
Mr Toh Kheng Guan
Mr Wan Hussein
Mdm Wan Fatimah
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any
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any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission from
Radin Mas Citizens’ Consultative Committee.
Disclaimer
Though the producers/editors believe reasonable efforts have been made to ensure
the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, it may include
inaccuracies or typographical errors and may be changed or updated without notice.
37
Published by
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c/o Radin Mas Community Club
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