Tan Tock Seng Hospital
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
National Healthcare Group
The new 15-story Tan Tock Seng Hospital was marked as a historic institution on 25 July 2001.
Geography
Location Novena, Singapore
Coordinates 1°19′17.8″N 103°50′45.4″ECoordinates: 1°19′17.8″N 103°50′45.4″E
Organisation
Hospital type District General
Services
Emergency department Yes Accident & Emergency
Links
Website http://www.ttsh.com.sg
Lists Hospitals in Singapore
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital (Abbreviation: TTSH; Chinese: 陈笃生医院; Malay: Hospital Tan Tock Seng) is the second-largest hospital in Singapore after the Singapore General Hospital, but its accident and emergency department is the busiest in the country largely due to its geographically centralised location.[1] Set up in 1844 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Tan Tock Seng, the hospital came under the international spotlight when it was designated as the sole treatment centre for the SARS epidemic which struck the country in 2003.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Location of Services
3 Clinical and Allied Health Services
4 TTSH Heritage Museum
5 The Art of Healing Programme
6 Notes
7 References
8 External links
[edit]History
Singapore was a successful trading centre. Large numbers of immigrants came, hoping to make their fortune here. The majority of immigrants were poor and destitute. Malnutrition was common and it was estimated that about 100 immigrants died each year from starvation.
The British government set up a pauper's hospital in the 1820s but it closed in the 1830s because of insufficient funds. The government then suggested that the better-off members of each community take care of their own poor. Subsequently, some of the more benevolent members of the community responded. One such person was Tan Tock Seng, a successful businessman, philanthropist and the first Asian Justice of Peace. In 1843, Tan offered funds for the construction of a hospital.
The foundation stone of the Chinese Paupers' Hospital, Singapore's first privately funded hospital, was laid on 25 July 1844, on Pearl's Hill. Construction took three years and a shortage of funds saw the hospital stand empty for two more years. Finally, the first batch of patients was admitted in 1849. About 100 sick and destitute people had been housed in an attap shed at the foot of Pearl's Hill when a fierce storm destroyed the shed, leaving them homeless. Rather than have them wander the streets, the government decided to place them in the hospital. In the hospital's early years, money was a constant problem, alleviated from time to time by donations from kind benefactors. A shortage of staff and no reliable water supply also made things difficult.
Tan Tock Seng died in 1850 at the age of 52. The hospital's name was changed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and, in 1861, it relocated to new premises on the corner of Serangoon Road and Balestier Road. A lepers' ward was also added. In 1903, the land on Moulmein Road, where the present hospital stands, was bought.
By the 1980s, the hospital's services and patient intake were beginning to outgrow the 1950s hospital building. A new 15-storey building was constructed and officially opened on 1 April 2000.
As a result of a restructuring exercise in the local health-care scene, the hospital became a member of the National Healthcare Group in 2000.
The hospital prides itself as a pioneer in the development of Geriatric Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Rehabilitation Medicine, Respiratory Medicine and Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology. It is also a major referral centre for Geriatric Medicine, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gastroenterology, Otorhinolaryngology and Orthopedic surgery. In 2003, the hospital was declared the designated hospital for SARS screening and treatment by the Ministry of Health.
[edit]Location of Services
The Hospital Complex
Completed in 1999, the complex is specially designed to provide comprehensive in-patient and out-patient services under one roof. Most services are provided in the modern complex, comprising the Hospital Block, the TTSH Medical Centre and the Podium Block. On average, specialist clinics receive 1,500 patients daily, while the Emergency Department attends to a daily 400, making it Singapore's busiest emergency department.
Communicable Disease Centre (CDC)
The Communicable Disease Centre is the national referral centre for the diagnosis and management of communicable diseases that include HIV and SARS. The CDC is made up of 2 campuses, equipped with in-patient and out-patient facilities to handle disease outbreak as well as laboratory facilities to conduct research for better disease management and patient care.
TTSH Rehabilitation Centre
The TTSH Rehabilitation Centre located at Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital offers the largest in-patient rehabilitation services in Singapore. Managed by the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, it also conducts therapy programmes and out-patient rehabilitation services.
Specialist Clinics
Closer to the community, TTSH operates specialist clinics at Hougang Polyclinic and Yew Tee MRT Station.
[edit]Clinical and Allied Health Services
Division of Ambulatory & Diagnostic Medicine
Diagnostic Radiology
Emergency Medicine
Oncology Services
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Division of Medicine
Cardiology
Clinical Epidemiology
Endocrinology
Gastroenterology and Hepatology
General Medicine
Geriatric Medicine
Infectious Diseases
Psychological Medicine
Rehabilitation Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology, Allergy & Immunology
Division of Surgery
Anaesthesiology
General Surgery
Ophthalmology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
Urology
Clinical Support Services
Complementary Integrative Medicine
Nutrition & Dietetics
Occupational Therapy
Pathology & Laboratory Medicine (Blood Transfusion, Haematology, Clinical chemistry, Anatomical pathology & Clinical microbiology)
Pharmacies (Outpatient, Inpatient & Retail)
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Prosthetics & Orthotics
Psychological Services
Respiratory Therapy
Speech Therapy
Travellers' Health & Vaccination Centre
Vascular Diagnostic Laboratory
[edit]TTSH Heritage Museum
The Tan Tock Seng Hospital Heritage Museum opened its doors on July 25, 2001. Honouring the legacy of its founder Mr Tan Tock Seng, the museum features a collection of Peranakan items from the mid-19th century, during Mr Tan's time.
Medical equipment and hospital artefacts of yore capture the enduring spirit of Singapore's first community hospital dedicated "to care for the sick poor of all nations". The hospital's development and achievements - in particular, its pioneering role in the treatment of tuberculosis (1940s) and its monumental leadership in the fight against SARS - are presented through narrative displays, salvaged historical objects and a time capsule.
The TTSH Heritage Museum is a member of the National Heritage Board's Museum Roundtable.
[edit]The Art of Healing Programme
Tan Tock Seng Hospital's The Art of Healing programme, an initiative that aims to use the arts as a form of therapy to soothe patients’ mind and body and help them on their path to recovery, was launched on February 6, 2006. Through the arts, the hospital is transformed to a warm, welcoming and enriching environment for patients, families, staff and visitors, and helps to distract patients from their ailments, express their feelings and reduce anxiety. By this, the hospital hopes that there will be an improvement in patients' blood pressure and intake of pain medication, which in turn should lead to faster recovery and a shorter length of hospital stay.
The programme is an on-going project where activities such as exhibitions (paintings, pottery, wire sculptures, etc.) and performances (orchestras, big bands, string quartets, plays, dances, etc.) are unveiled regularly. This helps to promote the hospital as a centre of holistic healing of mind and body, and transforms the hospital environment from a traditionally sterile, cold and fearful one to a warm, non-threatening and welcoming place of healing. The programme provides an enriching multi-cultural experience for patients and staff and welcomes artists of all art forms to be a part of these performances.
Under the arm of "The Art of Healing" programme, the hospital's Healing Sky Garden and Orchid Botanica were launched in 2006 and 2007, respectively.
[edit]Notes
^ "TTSH's Emergency Dept has longest waiting time". Channel NewsAsia. 2005-03-01. Retrieved 2007-08-24.
[edit]References
National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tan Tock Seng Hospital
[edit]External links
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
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Categories: Hospitals established in 1884 | Hospitals in Singapore | Novena
Monday, August 29, 2011
TAN TOCK SENG
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Tan.
Tan Tock Seng (simplified Chinese: 陈笃生; traditional Chinese: 陳篤生; pinyin: Chén Dǔshēng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Tok-sing; 1798–1850) was a Singaporean merchant and philanthropist. Born in Malacca in 1798 [1] to an immigrant Fukien (Hokkien) father and Hokkien Peranakan mother, Tan rose from humble origins. In 1819, Tan moved to Singapore to sell fruit, vegetable and fowl. He worked diligently and was able to set up a shop in Boat Quay and became a notable businessman.
Most of his wealth came from the results of his speculations with J. H. Whitehead of Shaw, Whitehead & Co. Horrocks Whitehead died in September 1846 at the age of 36. His tombstone at the old cemetery on Fort Canning was erected, "as a token of affection on the part of a Chinese friend, Tan Tock Seng."
Tan also owned large tracts of prime land, including 50 acres (200,000 m²) at the site of the railway station and another plot stretching from the Padang right up to High Street and Tank Road. His other assets were a block of shophouses, an orchard and a nutmeg plantation which he co-owned with his brother. In time, he became an influential Chinese leader and was the first Asian to be made a Justice of the Peace by Governor Butterworth. He was skillful at settling feuds among the Chinese and was accustomed to bear the expenses of burying poor Chinese. In 1844, he contributed $5,000 to the construction of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital on top of Pearl's Hill. The hospital was later shifted to Tan Tock Seng Road because the building at Pearl's Hill was too small to cater to enough patients and it was too old. Tan also contributed money to the construction of the Taoist Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer in 1842, the place of worship for the settlers from the Fujian province of China.
Tan Tock Seng died in 1850 at the age of 52, after catching an unknown disease. He left his wife Lee Seo Neo, who owned a large coconut estate in Geylang. Like him, she was unstinting in her support of the hospital and paid for a female ward. He also left behind three daughters, who were each bequeathed $36,000 in cash. One of his daughters married Lee Cheng Tee, at one time Chief Partner of Cheng-Tee Watt-Seng & Co., shipowners. His three sons (Tan Kim Ching, Tan Teck Guan and Tan Swee Lim) inherited his land parcels and the eldest, Tan Kim Ching, took over the duty of taking care of the hospital. Tan's grandson, Tan Chay Yan, was a well-known philanthropist and merchant in Malaya.
References
^ One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore
External links
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Genealogy of Tan Tock Seng
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Categories: 1798 births | 1850 deaths | Singaporean people of Chinese descent | Singaporean people of Hokkien descent | Singaporean businesspeople | Singaporean philanthropists
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Tan.
Tan Tock Seng (simplified Chinese: 陈笃生; traditional Chinese: 陳篤生; pinyin: Chén Dǔshēng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Tân Tok-sing; 1798–1850) was a Singaporean merchant and philanthropist. Born in Malacca in 1798 [1] to an immigrant Fukien (Hokkien) father and Hokkien Peranakan mother, Tan rose from humble origins. In 1819, Tan moved to Singapore to sell fruit, vegetable and fowl. He worked diligently and was able to set up a shop in Boat Quay and became a notable businessman.
Most of his wealth came from the results of his speculations with J. H. Whitehead of Shaw, Whitehead & Co. Horrocks Whitehead died in September 1846 at the age of 36. His tombstone at the old cemetery on Fort Canning was erected, "as a token of affection on the part of a Chinese friend, Tan Tock Seng."
Tan also owned large tracts of prime land, including 50 acres (200,000 m²) at the site of the railway station and another plot stretching from the Padang right up to High Street and Tank Road. His other assets were a block of shophouses, an orchard and a nutmeg plantation which he co-owned with his brother. In time, he became an influential Chinese leader and was the first Asian to be made a Justice of the Peace by Governor Butterworth. He was skillful at settling feuds among the Chinese and was accustomed to bear the expenses of burying poor Chinese. In 1844, he contributed $5,000 to the construction of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital on top of Pearl's Hill. The hospital was later shifted to Tan Tock Seng Road because the building at Pearl's Hill was too small to cater to enough patients and it was too old. Tan also contributed money to the construction of the Taoist Thian Hock Keng Temple at Telok Ayer in 1842, the place of worship for the settlers from the Fujian province of China.
Tan Tock Seng died in 1850 at the age of 52, after catching an unknown disease. He left his wife Lee Seo Neo, who owned a large coconut estate in Geylang. Like him, she was unstinting in her support of the hospital and paid for a female ward. He also left behind three daughters, who were each bequeathed $36,000 in cash. One of his daughters married Lee Cheng Tee, at one time Chief Partner of Cheng-Tee Watt-Seng & Co., shipowners. His three sons (Tan Kim Ching, Tan Teck Guan and Tan Swee Lim) inherited his land parcels and the eldest, Tan Kim Ching, took over the duty of taking care of the hospital. Tan's grandson, Tan Chay Yan, was a well-known philanthropist and merchant in Malaya.
References
^ One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore
External links
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Genealogy of Tan Tock Seng
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Categories: 1798 births | 1850 deaths | Singaporean people of Chinese descent | Singaporean people of Hokkien descent | Singaporean businesspeople | Singaporean philanthropists
Thursday, August 25, 2011
The New Paper
21 March 2010
S’pore’s oldest grave?
The grave of Fang Shan, which dates
back to 1833.
Story by BRYNA SIM
Photos by CHOO CHWEE HUA, BRYNA SIM
TUCKED away in Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery off Kheam Hock Road, is a long-forgotten grave with a 60cm-high granite headstone. Two empty drink cans that held joss sticks indicate that someone still remembers the final resting place of a man known as Fang Shan. It is on a small hill, amid creeper plants and weeds, one of about a hundred graves in the western section of the cemetery. The red Chinese characters on the weather-worn headstone says Fang Shan died in 1833, some 14 years after Sir Stamford Raffles first landed in Singapore. Historians and history buffs believe this may be the oldest grave in Singapore.
According to the National Archives of Singapore, which keeps burial records, the oldest grave here dates back to 2 Apr 1865, and was at the Bukit Timah Road Old Cemetery, also known as the Kampong Java Cemetery. The National Environment Agency said it was exhumed, together with the other 8,461 graves in the cemetery and the remains reburied at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery in 1970.
There is one other contender for the oldest grave title. In 2006, The Straits Times reported that a tomb dating back to 1842 had been found near the current National University of Singapore law school campus. It contained the remains of Chinese settler Qiu Zheng Zhi. It was then believed to be the "oldest in situ Chinese tomb in Singapore", meaning that it remained at the site where it was first built.
Now, cemetery explorer Raymond Goh, 46, believes the title should go to the grave of Fang Shan. Mr Goh, who stumbled upon the grave in late 2008, said: "Although the Fang tomb is not the oldest in situ tomb here, its dating back to 1833 trumps the 1842 record".
Cemetery explorer Raymond Goh posing by a tomb.
Preserve past
Mr Goh, a pharmacist by day, spends much of his free time researching tombs and cemeteries. The interest began in 2006 after he felt the importance of "preserving the past". He has since found more than 10 graves of Singapore's pioneers. (See infographic.)
Fang Shan's grave is looked after by the Fang Shee Association, a local clan association for those with the surname Fang. According to association secretary Akita Chua, 67, there are no known living descendants of Fang Shan. On the left side of the headstone, it says that the tomb was relocated in 1941. Mr Goh believes that the original location of the grave was at Heng Shan Teng, a cemetery for the Hokkien community around Silat Road in Bukit Merah. However, the association says the grave was moved from a cemetery around the Fort Canning area.
Mr Chua said that since 1962, clan members have been paying their respects to Fang Shan and
other ancestors annually during the Qing Ming festival. "In the past, we used to have to charter a bus during Qing Ming. But fewer than 10 people go these days."
The inscriptions on the tomb don't mention his hometown or year of birth, but state he had a son called Fang Li Eng. Mr Chua said Fang Shan, a government official in China, moved here to be a businessman.
His grave is among many other historically significant ones in the Bukit Brown cemetery, which was officially opened on 1 Jan 1922. It stretches across more than 80 hectares and there are about 80,000 graves there now. They were unaffected by the 800 or so exhumations carried out by the Public Works Department in 1965 and 1993.
For now, they remain largely untouched by development. Over the next few weeks, they may get some visitors, who come by to perform the annual Qing Ming rites for their ancestors. After that, all will be quiet again.
'Protect cemetery as it's a historic gem'
PRESERVE the Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery, say local heritage enthusiasts and cemetery conservationists. This comes after fears that graves at the cemetery would be affected by the construction of the nearby Bukit Brown MRT station at Jalan Mashor. The station is due to be completed this year. A Land Transport Authority spokesman has said that Circle Line work would not affect "any of the graves", although there is some work for the station going on around the cemetery.
An Urban Redevelopment Authority spokesman said that while there are "longer-term plans to develop the Bukit Brown cemetery", including the reserve area next to the cemetery for residential uses, there are no plans to redevelop the place at present. As its fate is hanging in the balance, individuals and groups have expressed the desire for the cemetery to be protected and enhanced permanently.
Dilemma
Dr Kevin Tan, president of the Singapore Heritage Society, hopes it will not end up like the
Bidadari Cemetery. The entire Bidadari cemetery grounds were cleared in January 2006, and while it was initially planned to be a residential estate, the area is now used for recreational and leisure purposes.
Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore's Department of History, Mr Kwa Chong Guan, said that there is a constant "dilemma between land use needs and preservation". However, he thinks that the Bukit Brown cemetery has a valid case for preservation. "It's a repository for social memories and a green space. I believe these reasons outweigh urban planning needs," he said.
Mr Kwa is also currently chairman of the National Archives and was formerly the director of the Oral History Centre and the National Museum. He and Dr Ho Hua Chew, chairman of the Nature Society's conservation committee, feel that the cemetery is rich in flora and fauna and is a good exercise location. "If you don't have the traditional 'pantang' (superstitious) inhibitions, the roads in the cemetery are pleasant for strolling and watching birds and butterflies," said Dr Ho.
During The New Paper's visits there, people could be seen walking their dogs, jogging and even taking driving lessons around the cemetery grounds. Dr Ho said that at least 84 species of birds have made the cemetery their home, which makes "the ecological importance of this place immense".
The Singapore Polo Club also uses designated trails at the cemetery for their members to ride their horses. This was permitted by the then Ministry of the Environment in the 1980s. According to the NEA, which now oversees this partnership, this activity does not adversely affect the cemetery grounds as it does not encroach into areas where there are graves.
The presence of many graves of Singapore pioneers also explain why many are so eager for it to be preserved. Dr Tan called the cemetery a "historic gem", where "people can go to learn lessons about the past".
Others such as Miss Tan Beng Luan, who worked at the National Archives for 11 years in its
Oral History Centre, also felt that the graves could teach people about Chinese customs and
culture. "The graves have different styles across the decades, and some show a mixture of culture and religion: Chinese-style graves have Christian crosses on them," she said.
Miss Tan, the principal of Creative O Preschoolers' Bay, considers the cemetery an "interesting open-aired museum". She, Dr Tan, Mr Kwa and Dr Ho are confident that enhancements to the cemetery can come in a variety of ways. Dr Tan felt that proper documentation of the cemetery could be done along with informative booklets or pamphlets, so as to "flesh out" the pioneers' stories. Miss Tan and Mr Kwa also think that signposts to certain prominent graves, as well as maps of the area would help visitors to navigate. Dr Ho even felt that the place could be designated as a cemetery-cum-park.
The Preservation of Monuments Board, which comes under the National Heritage Board, has said that it is possible for the latter "to commemorate the contributions of significant individuals and pioneers through heritage markers and memorials".
(Taken from The New Paper, 23 March 2010)
21 March 2010
S’pore’s oldest grave?
The grave of Fang Shan, which dates
back to 1833.
Story by BRYNA SIM
Photos by CHOO CHWEE HUA, BRYNA SIM
TUCKED away in Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery off Kheam Hock Road, is a long-forgotten grave with a 60cm-high granite headstone. Two empty drink cans that held joss sticks indicate that someone still remembers the final resting place of a man known as Fang Shan. It is on a small hill, amid creeper plants and weeds, one of about a hundred graves in the western section of the cemetery. The red Chinese characters on the weather-worn headstone says Fang Shan died in 1833, some 14 years after Sir Stamford Raffles first landed in Singapore. Historians and history buffs believe this may be the oldest grave in Singapore.
According to the National Archives of Singapore, which keeps burial records, the oldest grave here dates back to 2 Apr 1865, and was at the Bukit Timah Road Old Cemetery, also known as the Kampong Java Cemetery. The National Environment Agency said it was exhumed, together with the other 8,461 graves in the cemetery and the remains reburied at Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery in 1970.
There is one other contender for the oldest grave title. In 2006, The Straits Times reported that a tomb dating back to 1842 had been found near the current National University of Singapore law school campus. It contained the remains of Chinese settler Qiu Zheng Zhi. It was then believed to be the "oldest in situ Chinese tomb in Singapore", meaning that it remained at the site where it was first built.
Now, cemetery explorer Raymond Goh, 46, believes the title should go to the grave of Fang Shan. Mr Goh, who stumbled upon the grave in late 2008, said: "Although the Fang tomb is not the oldest in situ tomb here, its dating back to 1833 trumps the 1842 record".
Cemetery explorer Raymond Goh posing by a tomb.
Preserve past
Mr Goh, a pharmacist by day, spends much of his free time researching tombs and cemeteries. The interest began in 2006 after he felt the importance of "preserving the past". He has since found more than 10 graves of Singapore's pioneers. (See infographic.)
Fang Shan's grave is looked after by the Fang Shee Association, a local clan association for those with the surname Fang. According to association secretary Akita Chua, 67, there are no known living descendants of Fang Shan. On the left side of the headstone, it says that the tomb was relocated in 1941. Mr Goh believes that the original location of the grave was at Heng Shan Teng, a cemetery for the Hokkien community around Silat Road in Bukit Merah. However, the association says the grave was moved from a cemetery around the Fort Canning area.
Mr Chua said that since 1962, clan members have been paying their respects to Fang Shan and
other ancestors annually during the Qing Ming festival. "In the past, we used to have to charter a bus during Qing Ming. But fewer than 10 people go these days."
The inscriptions on the tomb don't mention his hometown or year of birth, but state he had a son called Fang Li Eng. Mr Chua said Fang Shan, a government official in China, moved here to be a businessman.
His grave is among many other historically significant ones in the Bukit Brown cemetery, which was officially opened on 1 Jan 1922. It stretches across more than 80 hectares and there are about 80,000 graves there now. They were unaffected by the 800 or so exhumations carried out by the Public Works Department in 1965 and 1993.
For now, they remain largely untouched by development. Over the next few weeks, they may get some visitors, who come by to perform the annual Qing Ming rites for their ancestors. After that, all will be quiet again.
'Protect cemetery as it's a historic gem'
PRESERVE the Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery, say local heritage enthusiasts and cemetery conservationists. This comes after fears that graves at the cemetery would be affected by the construction of the nearby Bukit Brown MRT station at Jalan Mashor. The station is due to be completed this year. A Land Transport Authority spokesman has said that Circle Line work would not affect "any of the graves", although there is some work for the station going on around the cemetery.
An Urban Redevelopment Authority spokesman said that while there are "longer-term plans to develop the Bukit Brown cemetery", including the reserve area next to the cemetery for residential uses, there are no plans to redevelop the place at present. As its fate is hanging in the balance, individuals and groups have expressed the desire for the cemetery to be protected and enhanced permanently.
Dilemma
Dr Kevin Tan, president of the Singapore Heritage Society, hopes it will not end up like the
Bidadari Cemetery. The entire Bidadari cemetery grounds were cleared in January 2006, and while it was initially planned to be a residential estate, the area is now used for recreational and leisure purposes.
Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore's Department of History, Mr Kwa Chong Guan, said that there is a constant "dilemma between land use needs and preservation". However, he thinks that the Bukit Brown cemetery has a valid case for preservation. "It's a repository for social memories and a green space. I believe these reasons outweigh urban planning needs," he said.
Mr Kwa is also currently chairman of the National Archives and was formerly the director of the Oral History Centre and the National Museum. He and Dr Ho Hua Chew, chairman of the Nature Society's conservation committee, feel that the cemetery is rich in flora and fauna and is a good exercise location. "If you don't have the traditional 'pantang' (superstitious) inhibitions, the roads in the cemetery are pleasant for strolling and watching birds and butterflies," said Dr Ho.
During The New Paper's visits there, people could be seen walking their dogs, jogging and even taking driving lessons around the cemetery grounds. Dr Ho said that at least 84 species of birds have made the cemetery their home, which makes "the ecological importance of this place immense".
The Singapore Polo Club also uses designated trails at the cemetery for their members to ride their horses. This was permitted by the then Ministry of the Environment in the 1980s. According to the NEA, which now oversees this partnership, this activity does not adversely affect the cemetery grounds as it does not encroach into areas where there are graves.
The presence of many graves of Singapore pioneers also explain why many are so eager for it to be preserved. Dr Tan called the cemetery a "historic gem", where "people can go to learn lessons about the past".
Others such as Miss Tan Beng Luan, who worked at the National Archives for 11 years in its
Oral History Centre, also felt that the graves could teach people about Chinese customs and
culture. "The graves have different styles across the decades, and some show a mixture of culture and religion: Chinese-style graves have Christian crosses on them," she said.
Miss Tan, the principal of Creative O Preschoolers' Bay, considers the cemetery an "interesting open-aired museum". She, Dr Tan, Mr Kwa and Dr Ho are confident that enhancements to the cemetery can come in a variety of ways. Dr Tan felt that proper documentation of the cemetery could be done along with informative booklets or pamphlets, so as to "flesh out" the pioneers' stories. Miss Tan and Mr Kwa also think that signposts to certain prominent graves, as well as maps of the area would help visitors to navigate. Dr Ho even felt that the place could be designated as a cemetery-cum-park.
The Preservation of Monuments Board, which comes under the National Heritage Board, has said that it is possible for the latter "to commemorate the contributions of significant individuals and pioneers through heritage markers and memorials".
(Taken from The New Paper, 23 March 2010)
published on Aug 19 2009 - 14:29
#1: Oldest skyscraper
Depends who you’re talking to. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary helpfully describes a skyscraper as ‘a very tall building’; in 1939, our first very tall building, The Cathay, was only eight floors high. In 2006, it was sexed up into a modern glass-and-metal beast but retained its original art-deco façade. Our oldest un-renovated skyscraper is technically the old block of the Bank of China Building, built in 1954 with a whopping 18 floors (the new block has 36).
Where: The Cathay (2 Handy Road) & Bank of China Building (4 Battery Road)
#2: Oldest man-made Structure
A wooden bridge marks what’s left of Parit Singapura, the ‘Moat of Singapore’. The moat was mentioned in The Malay Annals (a literary work that traces the origins and descent of Malay royalty), and its existence corroborated by a British map of 1825, which shows along modern Stamford Road an ‘earthen rampart…on the north side of this rampart was a stream’.
Where: Wooden bridge next to Raffles House (Fort Canning Park)
#3: Oldest mall
Founded in 1932, C.K. Tang is the oldest surviving retail business and development in Singapore, although the original establishment was demolished in 1975 to construct the Dynasty Hotel (now the Singapore Marriott Hotel) and shopping complex in its place. It’s hard to imagine this household name began with enterprising hawker Tang Choon Kheng from Swatow, China – popularly known as ‘Curio King’ – peddling his embroidered linen wares all over Singapore. Tang built his business on the humble principles of honesty and integrity.
Where: Tangs (310 & 320 Orchard Road)
C.K. Tang
#4: Oldest example of our State motto
When you enter Victoria Theatre, on the left-hand stairwell landing, our state motto – otherwise known as Majulah Singapura (or ‘Onward Singapore’) – shines through the dust. Zubir Said (who also wrote songs for the 1958 Malay film Blood of Pontianak) used these words as a starting point to compose an anthem that would celebrate Singapore’s conferred city status by King George VI and replace ‘God Save the Queen’.
Where: Victoria Theatre (9 Empress Place)
#5: Oldest Chinese Chamber of Commerce in South-East Asia
The attempt to fuse architectural details like the red colonnades and stone lions with a regular Western edifice renders this building a Far Eastern confusion. However, pay attention to the dragon mural flanking the gateway – the first replica porcelain nine-dragon wall in Singapore. While the original two-storey building was replaced in 1963, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry stands as a timeless guardian of Chinese customs and business values. During one visit, it even played host to a Sikh wedding ceremony.
Where: Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (47 Hill Street; MRT: City Hall)
#6: Oldest painted façade
The faded Peranakan shophouse at 66 Spottiswoode Park is a quaint anomaly in a row of better-restored neighbours. Though in lacklustre condition, its façade is the oldest surviving one and an original (still intact) to boot – a rarity in these parts. This gem in the rough was only discovered last year when the coat of whitewash that was stupidly painted over it (for reasons unknown) began to chip, hence its excellent preservation. Not much is known about the origin of this piece of history, apart from the fact that it dates back to approximately the 1880s. But the images of three magpies in terracotta red and blue, symbolising love, joy and good fortune, are truly a sight and unexpected treasure to behold.
Where: 66 Spottiswoode Park (MRT: Outram Park)
National Museum of Singapore
#7: Oldest kramat
Bite your tongue and swallow your Kermit jokes – a kramat is a holy Islamic tomb (the word is derived from ‘keramat’, which denotes a kind of miracle-working ability) of a holy Islamic saint. The oldest kramat belongs to Radin Ayu Mas, which translates as the Princess of Golden Beauty. Buried at the foot of Mount Faber, the legend tells the sad story of the brother of a sultan and his marriage to a common palace dancer. When the Sultan finds out, he sets Pangeran’s house on fire in his absence. The mother perishes in the flames, but a child named Radin Mas is rescued. The little princess and her father leave Java for Singapore only to be torn apart once again – in the final chapter of the tragedy, Radin Mas dies in her father’s arms after being accidentally stabbed with a kris (a dagger indigenous to Indonesia) by an evil Tengku (prince).
Where: Mount Faber Road (Tel: 6270 8855 MRT: HarbourFront)
#8: Oldest theatre
While most would assume the Yangtze Theatre – known for its racy and exotic XXX-rated movies – to be the oldest, the Capitol Theatre was erected way before the Yangtze hit puberty (for the record, it was opened in 1977). Built in 1929, the Capitol Theatre, a neo-classical curio, was previously a theatre for rambunctious cabaret performances until the Shaw Brothers turned it into its flagship cinema in 1946. Besides catering to the appetites of cinemagoers, there was also the Capitol Restaurant located in the Blue Room – not a hall for sexual content, but a beautiful function room with high ceilings and a zodiac mosaic that decorated the interior of its dome. The cinema, with its 1,686 seats, gave patrons the choice of gallery, stalls and circle seats. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s list of heritage buildings, the cinema lowered its curtains in 1998 after screening the futuristic thriller Soldier, which starred Kurt Russell.
Where: Junction of North Bridge Road and Stamford Road (MRT: City Hall)
#9: Oldest museum
In colonial days, the National Museum of Singapore was known as the Raffles Library and Museum, a repository for prized zoological, ethnographical and archaeological collections (or conquests) of South-East Asia, most of which have been forwarded on to NUS and other museums abroad. Today, the building, redeveloped at a cost of $132.6 million, includes a stunning glass-clad extension that pays tribute to the island’s nation-building history without neglecting modern art and culture. Do look out for one of its oldest artefacts, the Singapore Stone (currently on display at the Singapore History Gallery). This originally stood as part of a larger boulder at the entrance of the Singapore River and bears the earliest inscription (a variant of an old Sumatran script) found here – a significant relic of this island’s pre-colonial history, which has been variously dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.
Where: National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Road)
Capitol Theatre
published on Aug 19 2009 - 14:29
#1: Oldest skyscraper
Depends who you’re talking to. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary helpfully describes a skyscraper as ‘a very tall building’; in 1939, our first very tall building, The Cathay, was only eight floors high. In 2006, it was sexed up into a modern glass-and-metal beast but retained its original art-deco façade. Our oldest un-renovated skyscraper is technically the old block of the Bank of China Building, built in 1954 with a whopping 18 floors (the new block has 36).
Where: The Cathay (2 Handy Road) & Bank of China Building (4 Battery Road)
#2: Oldest man-made Structure
A wooden bridge marks what’s left of Parit Singapura, the ‘Moat of Singapore’. The moat was mentioned in The Malay Annals (a literary work that traces the origins and descent of Malay royalty), and its existence corroborated by a British map of 1825, which shows along modern Stamford Road an ‘earthen rampart…on the north side of this rampart was a stream’.
Where: Wooden bridge next to Raffles House (Fort Canning Park)
#3: Oldest mall
Founded in 1932, C.K. Tang is the oldest surviving retail business and development in Singapore, although the original establishment was demolished in 1975 to construct the Dynasty Hotel (now the Singapore Marriott Hotel) and shopping complex in its place. It’s hard to imagine this household name began with enterprising hawker Tang Choon Kheng from Swatow, China – popularly known as ‘Curio King’ – peddling his embroidered linen wares all over Singapore. Tang built his business on the humble principles of honesty and integrity.
Where: Tangs (310 & 320 Orchard Road)
C.K. Tang
#4: Oldest example of our State motto
When you enter Victoria Theatre, on the left-hand stairwell landing, our state motto – otherwise known as Majulah Singapura (or ‘Onward Singapore’) – shines through the dust. Zubir Said (who also wrote songs for the 1958 Malay film Blood of Pontianak) used these words as a starting point to compose an anthem that would celebrate Singapore’s conferred city status by King George VI and replace ‘God Save the Queen’.
Where: Victoria Theatre (9 Empress Place)
#5: Oldest Chinese Chamber of Commerce in South-East Asia
The attempt to fuse architectural details like the red colonnades and stone lions with a regular Western edifice renders this building a Far Eastern confusion. However, pay attention to the dragon mural flanking the gateway – the first replica porcelain nine-dragon wall in Singapore. While the original two-storey building was replaced in 1963, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry stands as a timeless guardian of Chinese customs and business values. During one visit, it even played host to a Sikh wedding ceremony.
Where: Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (47 Hill Street; MRT: City Hall)
#6: Oldest painted façade
The faded Peranakan shophouse at 66 Spottiswoode Park is a quaint anomaly in a row of better-restored neighbours. Though in lacklustre condition, its façade is the oldest surviving one and an original (still intact) to boot – a rarity in these parts. This gem in the rough was only discovered last year when the coat of whitewash that was stupidly painted over it (for reasons unknown) began to chip, hence its excellent preservation. Not much is known about the origin of this piece of history, apart from the fact that it dates back to approximately the 1880s. But the images of three magpies in terracotta red and blue, symbolising love, joy and good fortune, are truly a sight and unexpected treasure to behold.
Where: 66 Spottiswoode Park (MRT: Outram Park)
National Museum of Singapore
#7: Oldest kramat
Bite your tongue and swallow your Kermit jokes – a kramat is a holy Islamic tomb (the word is derived from ‘keramat’, which denotes a kind of miracle-working ability) of a holy Islamic saint. The oldest kramat belongs to Radin Ayu Mas, which translates as the Princess of Golden Beauty. Buried at the foot of Mount Faber, the legend tells the sad story of the brother of a sultan and his marriage to a common palace dancer. When the Sultan finds out, he sets Pangeran’s house on fire in his absence. The mother perishes in the flames, but a child named Radin Mas is rescued. The little princess and her father leave Java for Singapore only to be torn apart once again – in the final chapter of the tragedy, Radin Mas dies in her father’s arms after being accidentally stabbed with a kris (a dagger indigenous to Indonesia) by an evil Tengku (prince).
Where: Mount Faber Road (Tel: 6270 8855 MRT: HarbourFront)
#8: Oldest theatre
While most would assume the Yangtze Theatre – known for its racy and exotic XXX-rated movies – to be the oldest, the Capitol Theatre was erected way before the Yangtze hit puberty (for the record, it was opened in 1977). Built in 1929, the Capitol Theatre, a neo-classical curio, was previously a theatre for rambunctious cabaret performances until the Shaw Brothers turned it into its flagship cinema in 1946. Besides catering to the appetites of cinemagoers, there was also the Capitol Restaurant located in the Blue Room – not a hall for sexual content, but a beautiful function room with high ceilings and a zodiac mosaic that decorated the interior of its dome. The cinema, with its 1,686 seats, gave patrons the choice of gallery, stalls and circle seats. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s list of heritage buildings, the cinema lowered its curtains in 1998 after screening the futuristic thriller Soldier, which starred Kurt Russell.
Where: Junction of North Bridge Road and Stamford Road (MRT: City Hall)
#9: Oldest museum
In colonial days, the National Museum of Singapore was known as the Raffles Library and Museum, a repository for prized zoological, ethnographical and archaeological collections (or conquests) of South-East Asia, most of which have been forwarded on to NUS and other museums abroad. Today, the building, redeveloped at a cost of $132.6 million, includes a stunning glass-clad extension that pays tribute to the island’s nation-building history without neglecting modern art and culture. Do look out for one of its oldest artefacts, the Singapore Stone (currently on display at the Singapore History Gallery). This originally stood as part of a larger boulder at the entrance of the Singapore River and bears the earliest inscription (a variant of an old Sumatran script) found here – a significant relic of this island’s pre-colonial history, which has been variously dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.
Where: National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Road)
Capitol Theatre
#1: Oldest skyscraper
Depends who you’re talking to. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary helpfully describes a skyscraper as ‘a very tall building’; in 1939, our first very tall building, The Cathay, was only eight floors high. In 2006, it was sexed up into a modern glass-and-metal beast but retained its original art-deco façade. Our oldest un-renovated skyscraper is technically the old block of the Bank of China Building, built in 1954 with a whopping 18 floors (the new block has 36).
Where: The Cathay (2 Handy Road) & Bank of China Building (4 Battery Road)
#2: Oldest man-made Structure
A wooden bridge marks what’s left of Parit Singapura, the ‘Moat of Singapore’. The moat was mentioned in The Malay Annals (a literary work that traces the origins and descent of Malay royalty), and its existence corroborated by a British map of 1825, which shows along modern Stamford Road an ‘earthen rampart…on the north side of this rampart was a stream’.
Where: Wooden bridge next to Raffles House (Fort Canning Park)
#3: Oldest mall
Founded in 1932, C.K. Tang is the oldest surviving retail business and development in Singapore, although the original establishment was demolished in 1975 to construct the Dynasty Hotel (now the Singapore Marriott Hotel) and shopping complex in its place. It’s hard to imagine this household name began with enterprising hawker Tang Choon Kheng from Swatow, China – popularly known as ‘Curio King’ – peddling his embroidered linen wares all over Singapore. Tang built his business on the humble principles of honesty and integrity.
Where: Tangs (310 & 320 Orchard Road)
C.K. Tang
#4: Oldest example of our State motto
When you enter Victoria Theatre, on the left-hand stairwell landing, our state motto – otherwise known as Majulah Singapura (or ‘Onward Singapore’) – shines through the dust. Zubir Said (who also wrote songs for the 1958 Malay film Blood of Pontianak) used these words as a starting point to compose an anthem that would celebrate Singapore’s conferred city status by King George VI and replace ‘God Save the Queen’.
Where: Victoria Theatre (9 Empress Place)
#5: Oldest Chinese Chamber of Commerce in South-East Asia
The attempt to fuse architectural details like the red colonnades and stone lions with a regular Western edifice renders this building a Far Eastern confusion. However, pay attention to the dragon mural flanking the gateway – the first replica porcelain nine-dragon wall in Singapore. While the original two-storey building was replaced in 1963, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry stands as a timeless guardian of Chinese customs and business values. During one visit, it even played host to a Sikh wedding ceremony.
Where: Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (47 Hill Street; MRT: City Hall)
#6: Oldest painted façade
The faded Peranakan shophouse at 66 Spottiswoode Park is a quaint anomaly in a row of better-restored neighbours. Though in lacklustre condition, its façade is the oldest surviving one and an original (still intact) to boot – a rarity in these parts. This gem in the rough was only discovered last year when the coat of whitewash that was stupidly painted over it (for reasons unknown) began to chip, hence its excellent preservation. Not much is known about the origin of this piece of history, apart from the fact that it dates back to approximately the 1880s. But the images of three magpies in terracotta red and blue, symbolising love, joy and good fortune, are truly a sight and unexpected treasure to behold.
Where: 66 Spottiswoode Park (MRT: Outram Park)
National Museum of Singapore
#7: Oldest kramat
Bite your tongue and swallow your Kermit jokes – a kramat is a holy Islamic tomb (the word is derived from ‘keramat’, which denotes a kind of miracle-working ability) of a holy Islamic saint. The oldest kramat belongs to Radin Ayu Mas, which translates as the Princess of Golden Beauty. Buried at the foot of Mount Faber, the legend tells the sad story of the brother of a sultan and his marriage to a common palace dancer. When the Sultan finds out, he sets Pangeran’s house on fire in his absence. The mother perishes in the flames, but a child named Radin Mas is rescued. The little princess and her father leave Java for Singapore only to be torn apart once again – in the final chapter of the tragedy, Radin Mas dies in her father’s arms after being accidentally stabbed with a kris (a dagger indigenous to Indonesia) by an evil Tengku (prince).
Where: Mount Faber Road (Tel: 6270 8855 MRT: HarbourFront)
#8: Oldest theatre
While most would assume the Yangtze Theatre – known for its racy and exotic XXX-rated movies – to be the oldest, the Capitol Theatre was erected way before the Yangtze hit puberty (for the record, it was opened in 1977). Built in 1929, the Capitol Theatre, a neo-classical curio, was previously a theatre for rambunctious cabaret performances until the Shaw Brothers turned it into its flagship cinema in 1946. Besides catering to the appetites of cinemagoers, there was also the Capitol Restaurant located in the Blue Room – not a hall for sexual content, but a beautiful function room with high ceilings and a zodiac mosaic that decorated the interior of its dome. The cinema, with its 1,686 seats, gave patrons the choice of gallery, stalls and circle seats. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s list of heritage buildings, the cinema lowered its curtains in 1998 after screening the futuristic thriller Soldier, which starred Kurt Russell.
Where: Junction of North Bridge Road and Stamford Road (MRT: City Hall)
#9: Oldest museum
In colonial days, the National Museum of Singapore was known as the Raffles Library and Museum, a repository for prized zoological, ethnographical and archaeological collections (or conquests) of South-East Asia, most of which have been forwarded on to NUS and other museums abroad. Today, the building, redeveloped at a cost of $132.6 million, includes a stunning glass-clad extension that pays tribute to the island’s nation-building history without neglecting modern art and culture. Do look out for one of its oldest artefacts, the Singapore Stone (currently on display at the Singapore History Gallery). This originally stood as part of a larger boulder at the entrance of the Singapore River and bears the earliest inscription (a variant of an old Sumatran script) found here – a significant relic of this island’s pre-colonial history, which has been variously dated from the 10th to 14th centuries.
Where: National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Road)
Capitol Theatre
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Save Our Chinese HeritageMenushare0
The story of the oldest Chinese tombs in Singapore
by kentneo July 28, 2006
Text by Raymond Goh, 24 Sept 2006
The Tomb of Qiu Zheng Zhi (é‚±æ £ç›´) was built in 1842 (é“光壬寅). He comes from the village of Hai Teng Province Sin Aun 海澄县新安
He have 4 sons, 3 daughters and one grandson listed.
One of his sons listed in the tombstone Khoo Qin Zhan (邱ç›éœ‘) donated 5 Dollars in 1854 to rebuilt the Fuk Tak Chi (ç¦å¾·ç¥ ), which is a museum now in Telok Ayer Street.
In 1861, he also donated 12 Dollars for the Chui Eng Public School (èƒè‹±ä¹¦é™¢). Now the place is converted to a Thai Restaurant (Bamboo Court). (Source: Singapore Chinese Epigraphs Collections)
Please see the plaque found in Fuk Tak Chi regarding the donation by Khoo. The plaque was erected in 1854 to commenorate the renovation of Fuk Tek Chi temple. One plaque praises the powers of the Tai Pak Gong Diety. The other plaque list the donors to the renovation. Khoo’s name was on one of the plaques. There was also a plaque erected in 1886 which was a testimony to the dispute between the Hakka Chinese and the Cantonese Chinese.
Now Haizheng Province Sin Aun already was a properous place since the Tang Dynasty Period.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many clansmen from Sin Aun migrated to Taiwan, Dutch Batavia (now Jakarta) and Malacca with the repeal of the ban on maritime trade by the Manchu government. Since the rise of British power in the Far East, Siam, Burma (Myanmar), Singapore, Malacca, Kedah and Penang had been their favourite choices. Among these places, Penang saw the most Khoo immigrants in the 19th century.
(see migration chart from Khoo Kongsi website)
The Khoos of Khoo Kongsi (ä¸˜å…¬ç¥ ) from Penang also come from this village 新安 (Sin Aun).
The early pioneers of Singapore that also come from æ–°åžµ is Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ or 邱笃信). He was born in 1820 and come to singapore in 1840. He might be a relative or contempatory of é‚±æ £ç›´, as he and his brothers first two characters are é‚±æ £.
Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ ) is a famous Singapore rice merchant and was the president of Thong Chia Medial Institution. His 3rd brother Khoo Cheng Cheok é‚±æ £æœ even has a street Cheng Cheok Street (at Tanjong Pagar previously) named after him.
Khoo Cheng Tiong is also the father of Khoo Siok Guan (邱è½å› ), the famous scholar poet in Singapore, who started the Tian Nan Press in 1898, was an editor of Sin Chew Jit Poh and died in 1941
The other tomb which is of a couple, the wife of of an Eurasian. Their daughter is called “Holland”.
The daughter must have married a brother of the Khoo family or very close relative because their descandents share a common name for the first 2 characters:
邱ç›. That is why they can be buried at the same area.
————————
Please share your corrections/amendment, additions to this tomb research.
Raymond Goh
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme by Onswipe. View Standard Site
← Seek out the past, with an eye on the …Lessons from the Royal Plaques →
Comments
Back To ArticleNew Comment
The story of the oldest Chinese tombs in Singapore
by kentneo July 28, 2006
Text by Raymond Goh, 24 Sept 2006
The Tomb of Qiu Zheng Zhi (é‚±æ £ç›´) was built in 1842 (é“光壬寅). He comes from the village of Hai Teng Province Sin Aun 海澄县新安
He have 4 sons, 3 daughters and one grandson listed.
One of his sons listed in the tombstone Khoo Qin Zhan (邱ç›éœ‘) donated 5 Dollars in 1854 to rebuilt the Fuk Tak Chi (ç¦å¾·ç¥ ), which is a museum now in Telok Ayer Street.
In 1861, he also donated 12 Dollars for the Chui Eng Public School (èƒè‹±ä¹¦é™¢). Now the place is converted to a Thai Restaurant (Bamboo Court). (Source: Singapore Chinese Epigraphs Collections)
Please see the plaque found in Fuk Tak Chi regarding the donation by Khoo. The plaque was erected in 1854 to commenorate the renovation of Fuk Tek Chi temple. One plaque praises the powers of the Tai Pak Gong Diety. The other plaque list the donors to the renovation. Khoo’s name was on one of the plaques. There was also a plaque erected in 1886 which was a testimony to the dispute between the Hakka Chinese and the Cantonese Chinese.
Now Haizheng Province Sin Aun already was a properous place since the Tang Dynasty Period.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many clansmen from Sin Aun migrated to Taiwan, Dutch Batavia (now Jakarta) and Malacca with the repeal of the ban on maritime trade by the Manchu government. Since the rise of British power in the Far East, Siam, Burma (Myanmar), Singapore, Malacca, Kedah and Penang had been their favourite choices. Among these places, Penang saw the most Khoo immigrants in the 19th century.
(see migration chart from Khoo Kongsi website)
The Khoos of Khoo Kongsi (ä¸˜å…¬ç¥ ) from Penang also come from this village 新安 (Sin Aun).
The early pioneers of Singapore that also come from æ–°åžµ is Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ or 邱笃信). He was born in 1820 and come to singapore in 1840. He might be a relative or contempatory of é‚±æ £ç›´, as he and his brothers first two characters are é‚±æ £.
Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ ) is a famous Singapore rice merchant and was the president of Thong Chia Medial Institution. His 3rd brother Khoo Cheng Cheok é‚±æ £æœ even has a street Cheng Cheok Street (at Tanjong Pagar previously) named after him.
Khoo Cheng Tiong is also the father of Khoo Siok Guan (邱è½å› ), the famous scholar poet in Singapore, who started the Tian Nan Press in 1898, was an editor of Sin Chew Jit Poh and died in 1941
The other tomb which is of a couple, the wife of of an Eurasian. Their daughter is called “Holland”.
The daughter must have married a brother of the Khoo family or very close relative because their descandents share a common name for the first 2 characters:
邱ç›. That is why they can be buried at the same area.
————————
Please share your corrections/amendment, additions to this tomb research.
Raymond Goh
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme by Onswipe. View Standard Site
← Seek out the past, with an eye on the …Lessons from the Royal Plaques →
Comments
Back To ArticleNew Comment
Save Our Chinese HeritageMenushare0
The story of the oldest Chinese tombs in Singapore
by kentneo July 28, 2006
Text by Raymond Goh, 24 Sept 2006
The Tomb of Qiu Zheng Zhi (é‚±æ £ç›´) was built in 1842 (é“光壬寅). He comes from the village of Hai Teng Province Sin Aun 海澄县新安
He have 4 sons, 3 daughters and one grandson listed.
One of his sons listed in the tombstone Khoo Qin Zhan (邱ç›éœ‘) donated 5 Dollars in 1854 to rebuilt the Fuk Tak Chi (ç¦å¾·ç¥ ), which is a museum now in Telok Ayer Street.
In 1861, he also donated 12 Dollars for the Chui Eng Public School (èƒè‹±ä¹¦é™¢). Now the place is converted to a Thai Restaurant (Bamboo Court). (Source: Singapore Chinese Epigraphs Collections)
Please see the plaque found in Fuk Tak Chi regarding the donation by Khoo. The plaque was erected in 1854 to commenorate the renovation of Fuk Tek Chi temple. One plaque praises the powers of the Tai Pak Gong Diety. The other plaque list the donors to the renovation. Khoo’s name was on one of the plaques. There was also a plaque erected in 1886 which was a testimony to the dispute between the Hakka Chinese and the Cantonese Chinese.
Now Haizheng Province Sin Aun already was a properous place since the Tang Dynasty Period.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many clansmen from Sin Aun migrated to Taiwan, Dutch Batavia (now Jakarta) and Malacca with the repeal of the ban on maritime trade by the Manchu government. Since the rise of British power in the Far East, Siam, Burma (Myanmar), Singapore, Malacca, Kedah and Penang had been their favourite choices. Among these places, Penang saw the most Khoo immigrants in the 19th century.
(see migration chart from Khoo Kongsi website)
The Khoos of Khoo Kongsi (ä¸˜å…¬ç¥ ) from Penang also come from this village 新安 (Sin Aun).
The early pioneers of Singapore that also come from æ–°åžµ is Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ or 邱笃信). He was born in 1820 and come to singapore in 1840. He might be a relative or contempatory of é‚±æ £ç›´, as he and his brothers first two characters are é‚±æ £.
Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ ) is a famous Singapore rice merchant and was the president of Thong Chia Medial Institution. His 3rd brother Khoo Cheng Cheok é‚±æ £æœ even has a street Cheng Cheok Street (at Tanjong Pagar previously) named after him.
Khoo Cheng Tiong is also the father of Khoo Siok Guan (邱è½å› ), the famous scholar poet in Singapore, who started the Tian Nan Press in 1898, was an editor of Sin Chew Jit Poh and died in 1941
The other tomb which is of a couple, the wife of of an Eurasian. Their daughter is called “Holland”.
The daughter must have married a brother of the Khoo family or very close relative because their descandents share a common name for the first 2 characters:
邱ç›. That is why they can be buried at the same area.
————————
Please share your corrections/amendment, additions to this tomb research.
Raymond Goh
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme by Onswipe. View Standard Site
← Seek out the past, with an eye on the …Lessons from the Royal Plaques →
Comments
Back To ArticleNew Comment
The story of the oldest Chinese tombs in Singapore
by kentneo July 28, 2006
Text by Raymond Goh, 24 Sept 2006
The Tomb of Qiu Zheng Zhi (é‚±æ £ç›´) was built in 1842 (é“光壬寅). He comes from the village of Hai Teng Province Sin Aun 海澄县新安
He have 4 sons, 3 daughters and one grandson listed.
One of his sons listed in the tombstone Khoo Qin Zhan (邱ç›éœ‘) donated 5 Dollars in 1854 to rebuilt the Fuk Tak Chi (ç¦å¾·ç¥ ), which is a museum now in Telok Ayer Street.
In 1861, he also donated 12 Dollars for the Chui Eng Public School (èƒè‹±ä¹¦é™¢). Now the place is converted to a Thai Restaurant (Bamboo Court). (Source: Singapore Chinese Epigraphs Collections)
Please see the plaque found in Fuk Tak Chi regarding the donation by Khoo. The plaque was erected in 1854 to commenorate the renovation of Fuk Tek Chi temple. One plaque praises the powers of the Tai Pak Gong Diety. The other plaque list the donors to the renovation. Khoo’s name was on one of the plaques. There was also a plaque erected in 1886 which was a testimony to the dispute between the Hakka Chinese and the Cantonese Chinese.
Now Haizheng Province Sin Aun already was a properous place since the Tang Dynasty Period.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, many clansmen from Sin Aun migrated to Taiwan, Dutch Batavia (now Jakarta) and Malacca with the repeal of the ban on maritime trade by the Manchu government. Since the rise of British power in the Far East, Siam, Burma (Myanmar), Singapore, Malacca, Kedah and Penang had been their favourite choices. Among these places, Penang saw the most Khoo immigrants in the 19th century.
(see migration chart from Khoo Kongsi website)
The Khoos of Khoo Kongsi (ä¸˜å…¬ç¥ ) from Penang also come from this village 新安 (Sin Aun).
The early pioneers of Singapore that also come from æ–°åžµ is Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ or 邱笃信). He was born in 1820 and come to singapore in 1840. He might be a relative or contempatory of é‚±æ £ç›´, as he and his brothers first two characters are é‚±æ £.
Khoo Cheng Tiong (é‚±æ £å¿ ) is a famous Singapore rice merchant and was the president of Thong Chia Medial Institution. His 3rd brother Khoo Cheng Cheok é‚±æ £æœ even has a street Cheng Cheok Street (at Tanjong Pagar previously) named after him.
Khoo Cheng Tiong is also the father of Khoo Siok Guan (邱è½å› ), the famous scholar poet in Singapore, who started the Tian Nan Press in 1898, was an editor of Sin Chew Jit Poh and died in 1941
The other tomb which is of a couple, the wife of of an Eurasian. Their daughter is called “Holland”.
The daughter must have married a brother of the Khoo family or very close relative because their descandents share a common name for the first 2 characters:
邱ç›. That is why they can be buried at the same area.
————————
Please share your corrections/amendment, additions to this tomb research.
Raymond Goh
Blog at WordPress.com. Theme by Onswipe. View Standard Site
← Seek out the past, with an eye on the …Lessons from the Royal Plaques →
Comments
Back To ArticleNew Comment
Facts of Old Singapore
Revisiting Singapore and the many forgotten scenes and stories of Singapore. We compiled some of the facts of old Singapore.
Earliest Christian Cemetery on Fort Canning
A reminder to Singapore that we enjoy a very high degree of health and medical care; in early Singapore many died of malaria and cholera epidemic. The tombstones remind us of those who died at an early age because of these epidemics.The tombstone of ...
History of Old Little India in Singapore
An early settlement of the Indians; earliest was Tanjong Pagar. In November 1822 Stamford Raffles wrote to the Town Committee about 'the proper allotment of the Native division of the town…' About the Chuliah Kampong (Indian village) Raffles wrot ...
History of Old Singapore Chinatown
Early settlement of Chinese Immigrants - locality assigned By Stamford Raffles in 1822; living and working under Extreme conditions they contributed to the Development of Singapore. In November 1822 Stamford Raffles wrote to the Town Committee in ...
How Dhoby Ghaut Got Its Name!
Indian dhobies (laundrymen) in early Singapore washed their laundry in the stream which used to be known as Sungei Bras Basah - a rivulet - that flowed from Orchard Road to the sea. Today it is Stamford Canal. The Chinese called the road beside it 'L ...
How National University of Singapore Got Its Name
Originally Raffles College And later University of Malay, 1949 Then University of Malaya- Singapore Division and University of Singapore and National University of Singapore Raffles College for Arts and Science founded because of cl ...
Indian Old/Convict Settlement in Singapore
Indian convicts provided labour for early building and road projects in Singapore; they cleared jungles and filled swamps and helped to building among others the St Andrew's Cathedral, the Istana, government offices, early defence works and Horsbugh ...
Singapore’s First Drinkable Water Fountain
First public drinking fountain 'for the use of all nations' The auctioneer John Gemmill donated the public drinking fountain which originally stood in Raffles Place in 1864 but is now relocated in the grounds of the National Museum. The inscr ...
Singapore’s First Transference of Power
The Mosque (previously the reception hall) of the Temenggong Abdul Rahman whose tomb is in the Royal Mausoleum where a Rajah of Pahang, Rhio, and Lingga Empire is also buried. Sir Stamford Raffles returned to Singapore three years after the found ...
Singapore’s Tamil Pioneer, Mr P Govindasamy
Built by Singapore's Tamil Pioneer businessman and philanthropist who believed in investing in Singapore and settling here. P. Govindasamy Pillai built this Wedding Hall. It was officially opened by Inche Yusuf bin Ishak, the Yang di Pertuan Nega ...
The Establishment of the Malay Cultural District, Eunos & Geylang
Muhammad Eunos Abdullah, Chairman 'Kesatuan Melayu Singapura' (Singapore Malay Union) - origins of Malay nationalism in Singapore Muhammad Eunos Abdullah was born in Singapore in 1876. He was the son of a Minangkabau merchant from Sumatra. He stu ...
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Several Tamil Schools were started by individuals, labour unions, religious institution for Tamil children to study Tamil Language and Literature and sustain their Tamil culture and heritage in foreign land. 'The gift of learning is the integrity of ...
Revisiting Singapore and the many forgotten scenes and stories of Singapore. We compiled some of the facts of old Singapore.
Earliest Christian Cemetery on Fort Canning
A reminder to Singapore that we enjoy a very high degree of health and medical care; in early Singapore many died of malaria and cholera epidemic. The tombstones remind us of those who died at an early age because of these epidemics.The tombstone of ...
History of Old Little India in Singapore
An early settlement of the Indians; earliest was Tanjong Pagar. In November 1822 Stamford Raffles wrote to the Town Committee about 'the proper allotment of the Native division of the town…' About the Chuliah Kampong (Indian village) Raffles wrot ...
History of Old Singapore Chinatown
Early settlement of Chinese Immigrants - locality assigned By Stamford Raffles in 1822; living and working under Extreme conditions they contributed to the Development of Singapore. In November 1822 Stamford Raffles wrote to the Town Committee in ...
How Dhoby Ghaut Got Its Name!
Indian dhobies (laundrymen) in early Singapore washed their laundry in the stream which used to be known as Sungei Bras Basah - a rivulet - that flowed from Orchard Road to the sea. Today it is Stamford Canal. The Chinese called the road beside it 'L ...
How National University of Singapore Got Its Name
Originally Raffles College And later University of Malay, 1949 Then University of Malaya- Singapore Division and University of Singapore and National University of Singapore Raffles College for Arts and Science founded because of cl ...
Indian Old/Convict Settlement in Singapore
Indian convicts provided labour for early building and road projects in Singapore; they cleared jungles and filled swamps and helped to building among others the St Andrew's Cathedral, the Istana, government offices, early defence works and Horsbugh ...
Singapore’s First Drinkable Water Fountain
First public drinking fountain 'for the use of all nations' The auctioneer John Gemmill donated the public drinking fountain which originally stood in Raffles Place in 1864 but is now relocated in the grounds of the National Museum. The inscr ...
Singapore’s First Transference of Power
The Mosque (previously the reception hall) of the Temenggong Abdul Rahman whose tomb is in the Royal Mausoleum where a Rajah of Pahang, Rhio, and Lingga Empire is also buried. Sir Stamford Raffles returned to Singapore three years after the found ...
Singapore’s Tamil Pioneer, Mr P Govindasamy
Built by Singapore's Tamil Pioneer businessman and philanthropist who believed in investing in Singapore and settling here. P. Govindasamy Pillai built this Wedding Hall. It was officially opened by Inche Yusuf bin Ishak, the Yang di Pertuan Nega ...
The Establishment of the Malay Cultural District, Eunos & Geylang
Muhammad Eunos Abdullah, Chairman 'Kesatuan Melayu Singapura' (Singapore Malay Union) - origins of Malay nationalism in Singapore Muhammad Eunos Abdullah was born in Singapore in 1876. He was the son of a Minangkabau merchant from Sumatra. He stu ...
The Founding of Singapore’s Tamil Schools
Several Tamil Schools were started by individuals, labour unions, religious institution for Tamil children to study Tamil Language and Literature and sustain their Tamil culture and heritage in foreign land. 'The gift of learning is the integrity of ...
BOTANICA GARDEN HISTORY
Singapore Botanic Gardens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Singapore Botanic Gardens logo, Cyrtostachys palm
Symphony Lake at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Music was played at this gazebo, known as the Bandstand, in the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the 1930s
Replica of the ancient Lepidodendrons or giant clubmosses at the Evolution Garden
One of the newer attractions is the Saraca Stream in the Tanglin Core area
The lush lawns of Palm Valley are a popular spot for picnics and outdoor concerts
Office Building (Botany Hall 1) at the redeveloped Tanglin Core
Phalaenopsis philippinensis orchid growing in a mist house
A waterfall in the Ginger Gardens
Singapore's first "green roof" at the Green Pavilion
Orchids in the National Orchid Garden
The Singapore Botanic Gardens (Chinese: 新加坡植物园; Malay: Taman Botanik Singapura or Kebun Botani Singapura) is a 74-hectare[1] (183-acre) botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every single day of the year, and does not charge an admission fee, except for the National Orchid Garden. The garden is bordered by Holland Road and Napier Road to the south, Cluny Road to the east, Tyersall Avenue and Cluny Park Road to the west and Bukit Timah Road to the North. The linear distance between the northern and southern ends is around 2.5 km (1.5 miles).
Contents
1 History
2 Attractions
2.1 National Orchid Garden
2.2 Rainforest
2.3 Evolution Garden
2.4 Ginger Garden
2.5 Botany Centre and Tanglin Gate
2.6 Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
2.7 Other attractions
3 Future developments
4 Gallery
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
[edit]History
The first "Botanical and Experimental Garden" in Singapore was established in 1822 on Government Hill at Fort Canning by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore and a keen naturalist. The Garden's main task was to evaluate for cultivation crops which were of potential economic importance, including those yielding fruits, vegetables, spices and other raw materials. This first Garden closed in 1829.
It was not until 30 years later that the present Singapore Botanic Gardens began in 1859, when the Agri Horticultural Society was granted 32 hectares of land in Tanglin by the colonial government, which had obtained it from the merchant Hoo Ah Kay, known as Whampoa, in exchange for land at Boat Quay.
Laurence Niven was hired as superintendent and landscape designer to turn what were essentially overgrown plantations and a tangle of virgin rainforest into a public park. The layout of the Gardens as it is today is largely based on Niven's design. The Agri Horticultural Society, however, ran out of funds and, in 1874, the colonial government took over the management of the Gardens.
The first rubber seedlings came to the gardens from Kew in 1877. A naturalist, Henry Nicholas Ridley, or Mad Ridley as he was known, became director of the gardens in 1888 and spearheaded rubber cultivation. Successful in his experiments with rubber planting, Ridley convinced planters across Malaya to adopt his methods. The results were astounding; Malaya became the world's number one producer and exporter of natural rubber.[2]
Another achievement was the pioneering of orchid hybridisation by Professor Eric Holttum, director of the Gardens from 1925 to 1949. His techniques led to Singapore being one of the world's top centres of commercial orchid growing. Today it also has the largest collection of tropical plant specimens.
During the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945, Hidezo Tanakadate (田中館秀三), a professor of geology from Tohoku Imperial University, took over control of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Raffles Museum. At the beginning of the occupation, he ensured that no looting occurred in the Gardens and the Museum. Both institutions continued to function as scientific institutions. Holttum and Edred John Henry Corner were interned in the Gardens and instructed to continue their horticultural work. The Gardens was also renamed as Shōnan Botanic Gardens (昭南植物園). Later that year, Dr. Kwan Koriba (郡場寛), a retired professor of botany from the Imperial University of Tokyo, arrived as Director of the Gardens, a post he held until the end of the war.
After the war, the Gardens was handed back to the control of the British. Murray Ross Henderson, curator of the Herbarium before the war, succeeded Holttum as director from 1949 to 1954. Eventually the Gardens played an important role during the "greening Singapore" campaign and Garden City campaign during the early independence years.
[edit]Attractions
Chopin monument, just south of Symphony Lake
[edit]National Orchid Garden
The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction within the Botanic Gardens. Located on the mid-western side of the Garden, the hilly three-hectare site has a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids.
Within the Orchid Garden there are a number of attractions such as the following:
Burkill Hall and the VIP Orchid Garden: Burkill Hall is a colonial plantation bungalow built in 1886. It used to be the director's house and was named in honour of the only father and son pair to hold the post of Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Isaac and Humphrey Burkill. The ground level serves as an exhibition area, showcasing information on the different hybrids named after VIPs who have visited the garden.
At the back of Burkill Hall is the VIP Orchid Garden with hybrids of some of the VIP orchids on display. Notable ones include Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher, Renantanda Akihito, Dendrobium Masako Kotaishi Hidenka, Dendrobium Elizabeth and Vanda Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Orchidarium: A haven for serious orchids enthusiasts, the Orchidarium houses natural species in a tropical setting.
Tan Hoon Siang Misthouse: Tan Hoon Siang was a descendant of Tan Tock Seng, who was a philanthropist and founder of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The misthouse contains a colourful collection of different hybrids. It also has a small collection of fragrant orchids like Vanda Mimi Plamer.
Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad House: Named in honour of its sponsor, the Bromeliad House showcases plants from the Bromeliaceae family, which includes the pineapple. The unique collection of bromeliads on display was acquired from Shelldance Nursery in the United States in 1994.
Coolhouse: The Coolhouse tries to recreate the environment of a tropical highland forest and showcases orchids that are normally only found in the tropical highland areas.
[edit]Rainforest
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has a small tropical rainforest of around six hectares in size, which is older than the gardens itself. The rainforest and its bigger cousin at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are located within the Singapore's city limits. Singapore is one of the only two major cities with a tropical rainforest within its city limits, the other being Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro.
[edit]Evolution Garden
The 9.9-hectare (3.7-acre) Evolution Garden is located within the Central Core area of the Gardens. It tells the evolutionary story of plant life on Earth throughout the ages.
[edit]Ginger Garden
Located next to the National Orchid Garden, this one-hectare garden brings together members of the Zingiberaceae family. The garden houses a restaurant called Halia Restaurant. There is also a drop-off point along Tyersall Avenue as well as a waterfall. The garden was officially opened in 2003 and it took over the spot vacated by the previous Orchid Enclosure.
[edit]Botany Centre and Tanglin Gate
The reopened Tanglin Gate has been given a new look. Gone is the old cast iron gate; it now sports a more modern silver colour with a leaf motif as its main design.
The two new blocks of offices and classroom in the upgraded Tanglin Core area are known as the Botany Centre. They house the:
Library of Botany and Horticulture (including the Public Reference Centre);
the Singapore Herbarium;
Orchid Breeding and Micropagation; and
education outreach and workshop classrooms.
The corridors and walkways of the Botany Centre are covered by leaf imprints. There are also a number of wooden carvings scattered around the grounds, and fern-covered vertical walls.
The Green Pavilion is the first "green roof" in Singapore. Weed- and grass-like plants fully cover the pitched roof. It houses the visitor services desk as well as a food court, Inside Green, in its basement.
The offices of former directors, namely Holttum Hall (after Eric Holttum, Director of the Gardens from 1925 to 1949) and Ridley Hall (after Henry Nicholas Ridley, first director of Gardens from 1888 to 1911) were preserved and now serve as the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Directorate and Visitor Management and Operations offices.
[edit]Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
The Children's Garden was named after its main donor Jacob Ballas, a Jewish-Singaporean philanthropist who died in 2004.
Built at a cost of S$7 million (of which $99 million was donated by the Jacob Ballas Trust and sponsors), it is located at the quieter northern end of the Botanic Gardens. It has its own visitor centre with a café. It opened on Children's Day, 1 October 2007. The National Parks Board claims it is Asia's first children's garden. There are play areas like the Water Play area, a small playground, tree-houses with slides, and a maze. There are also interactive exhibits that teach how photosynthesis takes place, and a mini-garden that showcases how plants may be used to make dyes and beverages, or as herbs.
At the Children's Garden Visitor Centre there is a sculpture by the Israeli artist Zodok Ben-David. Named Mystree, it was commissioned by the Yad Vashem museum in 2010. From a distance, the sculpture looks like a tree but a closer inspection reveals 500 human figures.
Although it is part of the Botanic Garden, the Children's Garden has its own entrance along Bukit Timah Road.
[edit]Other attractions
Tropical plants line the bank of the Saraca Stream as it meanders its way down a small hill. The main highlights of the stream walk are the Yellow Saraca trees (Saraca cauliflora) and Red Saraca (Saraca declinata). Other attractions include the Palm Valley, Bandstand area, Sun Garden and Sundial Garden.
The Botanic Gardens has three lakes, namely Symphony Lake, Eco-Lake and Swan Lake. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage on Symphony Lake occasionally has free concerts on weekends. Notable performers include the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra. On 10 October 2008,[3] a statue of the composer Frédéric Chopin was unveiled just south of Symphony Lake.
The headquarters of the National Parks Board is located within the grounds of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Eateries within the garden include Au Jardin Les Amis, a French fine-dining restaurant in a colonial bungalow; Café Les Amis, a café at the Visitor Centre; and Halia Restaurant, a restaurant at the Ginger Garden. There are also gift shops for visitors.
Singapore's national agency in biodiversity-related issues, the National Biodiversity Centre, is also located within the grounds of the gardens.
[edit]Future developments
Botanic Gardens MRT Station will be located at the northwestern part of the Bukit Timah Core area of the Gardens. The station is part of the Circle Line, and is due to open in 2010. It will be an interchange station for the proposed Downtown Line's Bukit Timah Section. With the opening of the station, getting to the Gardens using public transportation will be far more convenient.
During the launch of the Children's Garden, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Parks Board mentioned that the Singapore Botanic Gardens will be expanded to include another 11 hectares of land. The land was previously occupied by the Singapore Management University. The Board also revealed that it would spend some $30 million to build five thematic gardens on the newly acquired land. The first garden will be the Healing Garden, expected to open by the first half of 2010. The other four will be the Fragrant Garden, Terrace Garden, Foliage Valley and Ethnobotany Garden. However, if past projects are any indication, these projects may not open on time. For example, the Botany Centre and Tanglin Redevelopment was supposed to open by 2005 but did not open till 2006. The Children's Garden was supposed to be completed by 2006 but did not open till October 2007.
Eco-lake at the Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
[edit]Gallery
The Tembusu tree (Faraea fragrans) featured on the reverse of the Singaporean five-dollar bill at Lawn E, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher
The Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection
Dendrobium Bae Yong Jun, an orchid cultivar named after the South Korean actor
Vanda Miss Joaquim, the national flower of Singapore
Cygnus atratus in the Eco-Lake
The Sun Garden (formerly known as the Sun Rockery)
Flight of Swans sculpture installed in May 2006 at Swan Lake
The Botany Centre Blocks, with a view of Calophyllum inophyllum and one of the wooden sculptures dotted around the complex.
Orchids
Ginger
[edit]See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Singapore Botanic Gardens
List of botanical gardens
List of parks in Singapore
Penang Botanic Gardens, a botanic garden in Penang, Malaysia with a similar history.
Tourism in Singapore
[edit]References
^ "Singapore Botanic Gardens: Upcoming Attractions". Singapore Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
^ Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon (29 March 2001), Sir Henry Nicholas Ridley, Singapore: National Library Board Singapore
^ The Unveiling Ceremony of a Monument to Frederic Chopin & Inaugural Concert by NAFA Orchestra, The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Singapore, 5 October 2008, retrieved 4 June 2010
National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
Singapore Botanic Gardens (1989), "Visions of Delight - The Singapore Botanic Gardens through the ages", by Bonnie Tinsley, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, ISBN 9971-88-2503-5
[edit]External links
Singapore Botanic Gardens - Official site
Uniquely Singapore website
National Parks Board website
Virtual Reality preview of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
National Biodiversity Centre, Singapore
v · d · eMajor Tourist Attractions in Singapore
WRS Parks
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Escape Theme Park · Haw Par Villa · Sentosa · Wild Wild Wet · Resorts World Sentosa (Universal Studios Singapore · Equarius Water Park (U/C))
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Bukit Timah Nature Reserve · Singapore Botanic Gardens · Gardens by the Bay (U/C) · Pulau Ubin (Chek Jawa) · Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve · Central Catchment Nature Reserve · Labrador Nature Reserve · HortPark · Chinese Garden · Japanese Garden
Monuments
Bukit Batok Memorial · Civilian War Memorial · The Cenotaph · Early Founders Memorial Stone · Former Indian National Army Monument · Japanese Cemetery Park · Kranji War Memorial · Raffles' Landing Site · SGH War Memorial
Others
Merlion · Orchard Road · Singapore River · Singapore Flyer · Marina Barrage · Clifford Pier · The Helix Bridge
Singapore Tourism Board
Coordinates: 1.3151°N 103.8162°E
Categories: 1859 establishments | Botanical gardens in Singapore | Parks in Singapore | Tanglin | Visitor attractions in Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Singapore Botanic Gardens logo, Cyrtostachys palm
Symphony Lake at the Singapore Botanic Gardens
Music was played at this gazebo, known as the Bandstand, in the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the 1930s
Replica of the ancient Lepidodendrons or giant clubmosses at the Evolution Garden
One of the newer attractions is the Saraca Stream in the Tanglin Core area
The lush lawns of Palm Valley are a popular spot for picnics and outdoor concerts
Office Building (Botany Hall 1) at the redeveloped Tanglin Core
Phalaenopsis philippinensis orchid growing in a mist house
A waterfall in the Ginger Gardens
Singapore's first "green roof" at the Green Pavilion
Orchids in the National Orchid Garden
The Singapore Botanic Gardens (Chinese: 新加坡植物园; Malay: Taman Botanik Singapura or Kebun Botani Singapura) is a 74-hectare[1] (183-acre) botanical garden in Singapore. It is half the size of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew or around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York. It is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every single day of the year, and does not charge an admission fee, except for the National Orchid Garden. The garden is bordered by Holland Road and Napier Road to the south, Cluny Road to the east, Tyersall Avenue and Cluny Park Road to the west and Bukit Timah Road to the North. The linear distance between the northern and southern ends is around 2.5 km (1.5 miles).
Contents
1 History
2 Attractions
2.1 National Orchid Garden
2.2 Rainforest
2.3 Evolution Garden
2.4 Ginger Garden
2.5 Botany Centre and Tanglin Gate
2.6 Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
2.7 Other attractions
3 Future developments
4 Gallery
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
[edit]History
The first "Botanical and Experimental Garden" in Singapore was established in 1822 on Government Hill at Fort Canning by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore and a keen naturalist. The Garden's main task was to evaluate for cultivation crops which were of potential economic importance, including those yielding fruits, vegetables, spices and other raw materials. This first Garden closed in 1829.
It was not until 30 years later that the present Singapore Botanic Gardens began in 1859, when the Agri Horticultural Society was granted 32 hectares of land in Tanglin by the colonial government, which had obtained it from the merchant Hoo Ah Kay, known as Whampoa, in exchange for land at Boat Quay.
Laurence Niven was hired as superintendent and landscape designer to turn what were essentially overgrown plantations and a tangle of virgin rainforest into a public park. The layout of the Gardens as it is today is largely based on Niven's design. The Agri Horticultural Society, however, ran out of funds and, in 1874, the colonial government took over the management of the Gardens.
The first rubber seedlings came to the gardens from Kew in 1877. A naturalist, Henry Nicholas Ridley, or Mad Ridley as he was known, became director of the gardens in 1888 and spearheaded rubber cultivation. Successful in his experiments with rubber planting, Ridley convinced planters across Malaya to adopt his methods. The results were astounding; Malaya became the world's number one producer and exporter of natural rubber.[2]
Another achievement was the pioneering of orchid hybridisation by Professor Eric Holttum, director of the Gardens from 1925 to 1949. His techniques led to Singapore being one of the world's top centres of commercial orchid growing. Today it also has the largest collection of tropical plant specimens.
During the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 to 1945, Hidezo Tanakadate (田中館秀三), a professor of geology from Tohoku Imperial University, took over control of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and the Raffles Museum. At the beginning of the occupation, he ensured that no looting occurred in the Gardens and the Museum. Both institutions continued to function as scientific institutions. Holttum and Edred John Henry Corner were interned in the Gardens and instructed to continue their horticultural work. The Gardens was also renamed as Shōnan Botanic Gardens (昭南植物園). Later that year, Dr. Kwan Koriba (郡場寛), a retired professor of botany from the Imperial University of Tokyo, arrived as Director of the Gardens, a post he held until the end of the war.
After the war, the Gardens was handed back to the control of the British. Murray Ross Henderson, curator of the Herbarium before the war, succeeded Holttum as director from 1949 to 1954. Eventually the Gardens played an important role during the "greening Singapore" campaign and Garden City campaign during the early independence years.
[edit]Attractions
Chopin monument, just south of Symphony Lake
[edit]National Orchid Garden
The National Orchid Garden is the main attraction within the Botanic Gardens. Located on the mid-western side of the Garden, the hilly three-hectare site has a collection of more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids.
Within the Orchid Garden there are a number of attractions such as the following:
Burkill Hall and the VIP Orchid Garden: Burkill Hall is a colonial plantation bungalow built in 1886. It used to be the director's house and was named in honour of the only father and son pair to hold the post of Director of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Isaac and Humphrey Burkill. The ground level serves as an exhibition area, showcasing information on the different hybrids named after VIPs who have visited the garden.
At the back of Burkill Hall is the VIP Orchid Garden with hybrids of some of the VIP orchids on display. Notable ones include Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher, Renantanda Akihito, Dendrobium Masako Kotaishi Hidenka, Dendrobium Elizabeth and Vanda Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
Orchidarium: A haven for serious orchids enthusiasts, the Orchidarium houses natural species in a tropical setting.
Tan Hoon Siang Misthouse: Tan Hoon Siang was a descendant of Tan Tock Seng, who was a philanthropist and founder of the Tan Tock Seng Hospital. The misthouse contains a colourful collection of different hybrids. It also has a small collection of fragrant orchids like Vanda Mimi Plamer.
Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad House: Named in honour of its sponsor, the Bromeliad House showcases plants from the Bromeliaceae family, which includes the pineapple. The unique collection of bromeliads on display was acquired from Shelldance Nursery in the United States in 1994.
Coolhouse: The Coolhouse tries to recreate the environment of a tropical highland forest and showcases orchids that are normally only found in the tropical highland areas.
[edit]Rainforest
The Singapore Botanic Gardens has a small tropical rainforest of around six hectares in size, which is older than the gardens itself. The rainforest and its bigger cousin at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are located within the Singapore's city limits. Singapore is one of the only two major cities with a tropical rainforest within its city limits, the other being Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro.
[edit]Evolution Garden
The 9.9-hectare (3.7-acre) Evolution Garden is located within the Central Core area of the Gardens. It tells the evolutionary story of plant life on Earth throughout the ages.
[edit]Ginger Garden
Located next to the National Orchid Garden, this one-hectare garden brings together members of the Zingiberaceae family. The garden houses a restaurant called Halia Restaurant. There is also a drop-off point along Tyersall Avenue as well as a waterfall. The garden was officially opened in 2003 and it took over the spot vacated by the previous Orchid Enclosure.
[edit]Botany Centre and Tanglin Gate
The reopened Tanglin Gate has been given a new look. Gone is the old cast iron gate; it now sports a more modern silver colour with a leaf motif as its main design.
The two new blocks of offices and classroom in the upgraded Tanglin Core area are known as the Botany Centre. They house the:
Library of Botany and Horticulture (including the Public Reference Centre);
the Singapore Herbarium;
Orchid Breeding and Micropagation; and
education outreach and workshop classrooms.
The corridors and walkways of the Botany Centre are covered by leaf imprints. There are also a number of wooden carvings scattered around the grounds, and fern-covered vertical walls.
The Green Pavilion is the first "green roof" in Singapore. Weed- and grass-like plants fully cover the pitched roof. It houses the visitor services desk as well as a food court, Inside Green, in its basement.
The offices of former directors, namely Holttum Hall (after Eric Holttum, Director of the Gardens from 1925 to 1949) and Ridley Hall (after Henry Nicholas Ridley, first director of Gardens from 1888 to 1911) were preserved and now serve as the Singapore Botanic Gardens' Directorate and Visitor Management and Operations offices.
[edit]Jacob Ballas Children's Garden
The Children's Garden was named after its main donor Jacob Ballas, a Jewish-Singaporean philanthropist who died in 2004.
Built at a cost of S$7 million (of which $99 million was donated by the Jacob Ballas Trust and sponsors), it is located at the quieter northern end of the Botanic Gardens. It has its own visitor centre with a café. It opened on Children's Day, 1 October 2007. The National Parks Board claims it is Asia's first children's garden. There are play areas like the Water Play area, a small playground, tree-houses with slides, and a maze. There are also interactive exhibits that teach how photosynthesis takes place, and a mini-garden that showcases how plants may be used to make dyes and beverages, or as herbs.
At the Children's Garden Visitor Centre there is a sculpture by the Israeli artist Zodok Ben-David. Named Mystree, it was commissioned by the Yad Vashem museum in 2010. From a distance, the sculpture looks like a tree but a closer inspection reveals 500 human figures.
Although it is part of the Botanic Garden, the Children's Garden has its own entrance along Bukit Timah Road.
[edit]Other attractions
Tropical plants line the bank of the Saraca Stream as it meanders its way down a small hill. The main highlights of the stream walk are the Yellow Saraca trees (Saraca cauliflora) and Red Saraca (Saraca declinata). Other attractions include the Palm Valley, Bandstand area, Sun Garden and Sundial Garden.
The Botanic Gardens has three lakes, namely Symphony Lake, Eco-Lake and Swan Lake. The Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage on Symphony Lake occasionally has free concerts on weekends. Notable performers include the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Chinese Orchestra. On 10 October 2008,[3] a statue of the composer Frédéric Chopin was unveiled just south of Symphony Lake.
The headquarters of the National Parks Board is located within the grounds of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Eateries within the garden include Au Jardin Les Amis, a French fine-dining restaurant in a colonial bungalow; Café Les Amis, a café at the Visitor Centre; and Halia Restaurant, a restaurant at the Ginger Garden. There are also gift shops for visitors.
Singapore's national agency in biodiversity-related issues, the National Biodiversity Centre, is also located within the grounds of the gardens.
[edit]Future developments
Botanic Gardens MRT Station will be located at the northwestern part of the Bukit Timah Core area of the Gardens. The station is part of the Circle Line, and is due to open in 2010. It will be an interchange station for the proposed Downtown Line's Bukit Timah Section. With the opening of the station, getting to the Gardens using public transportation will be far more convenient.
During the launch of the Children's Garden, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Parks Board mentioned that the Singapore Botanic Gardens will be expanded to include another 11 hectares of land. The land was previously occupied by the Singapore Management University. The Board also revealed that it would spend some $30 million to build five thematic gardens on the newly acquired land. The first garden will be the Healing Garden, expected to open by the first half of 2010. The other four will be the Fragrant Garden, Terrace Garden, Foliage Valley and Ethnobotany Garden. However, if past projects are any indication, these projects may not open on time. For example, the Botany Centre and Tanglin Redevelopment was supposed to open by 2005 but did not open till 2006. The Children's Garden was supposed to be completed by 2006 but did not open till October 2007.
Eco-lake at the Bukit Timah Core of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
[edit]Gallery
The Tembusu tree (Faraea fragrans) featured on the reverse of the Singaporean five-dollar bill at Lawn E, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Dendrobium Margaret Thatcher
The Yuen-Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection
Dendrobium Bae Yong Jun, an orchid cultivar named after the South Korean actor
Vanda Miss Joaquim, the national flower of Singapore
Cygnus atratus in the Eco-Lake
The Sun Garden (formerly known as the Sun Rockery)
Flight of Swans sculpture installed in May 2006 at Swan Lake
The Botany Centre Blocks, with a view of Calophyllum inophyllum and one of the wooden sculptures dotted around the complex.
Orchids
Ginger
[edit]See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Singapore Botanic Gardens
List of botanical gardens
List of parks in Singapore
Penang Botanic Gardens, a botanic garden in Penang, Malaysia with a similar history.
Tourism in Singapore
[edit]References
^ "Singapore Botanic Gardens: Upcoming Attractions". Singapore Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
^ Cornelius-Takahama, Vernon (29 March 2001), Sir Henry Nicholas Ridley, Singapore: National Library Board Singapore
^ The Unveiling Ceremony of a Monument to Frederic Chopin & Inaugural Concert by NAFA Orchestra, The Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Singapore, 5 October 2008, retrieved 4 June 2010
National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
Singapore Botanic Gardens (1989), "Visions of Delight - The Singapore Botanic Gardens through the ages", by Bonnie Tinsley, Tien Wah Press, Singapore, ISBN 9971-88-2503-5
[edit]External links
Singapore Botanic Gardens - Official site
Uniquely Singapore website
National Parks Board website
Virtual Reality preview of the Singapore Botanic Gardens
National Biodiversity Centre, Singapore
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Categories: 1859 establishments | Botanical gardens in Singapore | Parks in Singapore | Tanglin | Visitor attractions in Singapore
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
MacRitchie Reservoir
The distinctive zig-zag bridge and Performing Arts Pavilion are popular spots at the reservoir
Coordinates 1°20′37″N 103°49′52″ECoordinates: 1°20′37″N 103°49′52″E
Lake type reservoir
Basin countries Singapore
MacRitchie Reservoir (Chinese: 麦里芝蓄水池, Pinyin: Maìlǐzhī Xùshuǐchí) is Singapore's oldest reservoir. The reservoir was completed in 1868 by impounding water from an earth embankment, and was then known as the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Present
3 References
4 See also
5 Gallery
6 External links
[edit]History
Boardwalk at MacRitchie Reservoir
Reservoir, boardwalk and running trail converge
Before the early 19th century, most of the Singapore main island was covered by primary forest. Soon after the British established a settlement in Singapore in 1819 and commercial activity took root, there was a demand for fresh water. However, it was decades before the settlement's first fresh water supply was established.
Between 1820 and 1870, a substantial portion of the virgin forest was cleared to assist Singapore in becoming an important trading post. Prior to this, Chinese planters had also worked the forested land for timber and the cultivation of crops like gambier, pepper and rubber. By 1886, only 10% of the original forest cover remained.
In 1823, British Resident John Crawfurd proposed the building of a reservoir and waterworks, setting aside $1,000 for these plans but nothing came of them. Another plan that ended up in smoke was the idea to tap the headwaters of Singapore Creek.
Finally, in 1857, Straits Chinese merchant Tan Kim Seng donated $13,000 for the improvement of the town's waterworks but delays, poor planning and use of the wrong building materials ate into the budget. New plans were drawn up for an impounding reservoir in Thomson. Tan's money was insufficient – the cost of the new reservoir was $100,000 – but colonial headquarters in Calcutta refused to make up the rest of the cost. When Tan died in 1864, the reservoir was no nearer completion.
Construction was eventually completed in 1868 but the pumps and distributing network were not finished until 1877. By this time, public confidence in the government's ability was dented.
In 1882, in a move to salvage its reputation, the Municipal Council erected a fountain in Fullerton Square in honour of Tan Kim Seng. The fountain was later to moved to Queen Elizabeth Walk, where it stands today.
In 1891, the holding capacity of the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir, after its designer John Turnbull Thomson, was expanded to over 465 million gallons. Municipal Engineer James MacRitchie oversaw this $32,000 expansion and the reservoir was named after him in 1922. In the 1890s, he had urged the government to buy the Chasseriau Estate for use as a reservoir but it was not until much later that the purchase was made.
However, the reservoir's 4 million gallons a day were still insufficient to meet demand. Water was pumped into the reservoir from the upper section of Kallang River, one of the island's bigger sources of fresh water. Other fresh water supplies – Lower Peirce Reservoir and Seletar Reservoir – were completed in 1912 and 1920 respectively. However, the government realised that Singapore would not be able to meet its own fresh water needs. In 1927, a water treaty was signed with the Sultan of Johor. Singapore received its first supply of water from Johor in 1932 but Singapore is now more independent.
The development of the MacRitchie Reservoir brought the forest devastation around the area to a halt. The forest surrounding the reservoir has been protected as a water catchment reserve. The forested areas surrounding the other two reservoirs, Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir (formerly Seletar Reservoir) were also protected when these reservoirs were developed.
During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore built a Shinto Shrine, Syonan Jinja,in the middle of the MacRitchie Reservoir forest in Singapore. When the British forces re-occupied Singapore, the Shrine was destroyed. However, ruins of the shrine remain and serve as a quaint piece of History accessible only to those willing to look for it, given its obscure location. The National Heritage Board declared the site a Historic Site in 2002, although no plans have been made public to develop or to protect the site.
[edit]Present
More than one square kilometre of primary forest still flourishes in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve today, particularly around MacRitchie Reservoir. Rubber trees, remnants of the plantations from the 19th century, can still be seen along the fringes around the reservoir.
There are boardwalks skirting the edge of the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir and walking trails through the forest. They range in distances from 3 km to 11 km. Interpretative signboards along the boardwalks allow for a self-guided tour along the fringes of the MacRitchie forest.
The boardwalk around the perimeter of the MacRitchie Reservoir brings the visitor through interesting secondary forest in the Central Catchment nature area. The boardwalk which hugs the reservoir also allows for easy exploration of freshwater wildlife. The Ant plant (Macaranga bancana.) and pitcher plants are common in the area.
In addition to the boardwalk, another popular attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk, a 250 m aerial free standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang which are the two highest points in MacRitchie. The bridge was completed in July 2004, and the TreeTop Walk was officially launched on 5 November 2004. The structure, which is 25 m at its highest point, offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest. Jelutong Tower also offers a view of the Singapore Island Country Club golf course and the MacRitchie Reservoir.
The 3.2 km and 4.8 km trails are still used as cross-country running routes for various inter-school competitions today.
Schools can be seen using the reservoir as a place for water sports such as canoeing and kayaking. There are certain competitions held there annually. A new amenities hub has been recently constructed following the opening of a multi storey car park. This is part of the renewal programme.
[edit]References
National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
[edit]See also
Syonan Jinja
[edit]Gallery
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: MacRitchie Reservoir
Sign to the treetop walk
The suspension bridge as part of the treetop walk
[edit]External links
National Parks Board, Central Catchment Nature Reserve - HSBC TreeTop Walk
360 interactive VR photo of MacRitchie Reservoir
SPI Investigates Syonan Jinja
[hide]v · d · eReservoirs in Singapore
Nature
Bedok · Jurong Lake · Kranji · Lower Peirce · Lower Seletar · MacRitchie · Marina · Murai · Pandan · Poyan · Pulau Tekong · Punggol · Sarimbun · Serangoon · Tengeh · Upper Peirce · Upper Seletar
Service
Changi Creek · Fort Canning · Jalan Eunos · Kallang · Murnane · Pearl's Hill · South End · Yishun
Planned
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Categories: Reservoirs in Singapore | Parks in Singapore | Visitor attractions in Singapore | Central Water Catchment
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MacRitchie Reservoir
The distinctive zig-zag bridge and Performing Arts Pavilion are popular spots at the reservoir
Coordinates 1°20′37″N 103°49′52″ECoordinates: 1°20′37″N 103°49′52″E
Lake type reservoir
Basin countries Singapore
MacRitchie Reservoir (Chinese: 麦里芝蓄水池, Pinyin: Maìlǐzhī Xùshuǐchí) is Singapore's oldest reservoir. The reservoir was completed in 1868 by impounding water from an earth embankment, and was then known as the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir.
Contents [hide]
1 History
2 Present
3 References
4 See also
5 Gallery
6 External links
[edit]History
Boardwalk at MacRitchie Reservoir
Reservoir, boardwalk and running trail converge
Before the early 19th century, most of the Singapore main island was covered by primary forest. Soon after the British established a settlement in Singapore in 1819 and commercial activity took root, there was a demand for fresh water. However, it was decades before the settlement's first fresh water supply was established.
Between 1820 and 1870, a substantial portion of the virgin forest was cleared to assist Singapore in becoming an important trading post. Prior to this, Chinese planters had also worked the forested land for timber and the cultivation of crops like gambier, pepper and rubber. By 1886, only 10% of the original forest cover remained.
In 1823, British Resident John Crawfurd proposed the building of a reservoir and waterworks, setting aside $1,000 for these plans but nothing came of them. Another plan that ended up in smoke was the idea to tap the headwaters of Singapore Creek.
Finally, in 1857, Straits Chinese merchant Tan Kim Seng donated $13,000 for the improvement of the town's waterworks but delays, poor planning and use of the wrong building materials ate into the budget. New plans were drawn up for an impounding reservoir in Thomson. Tan's money was insufficient – the cost of the new reservoir was $100,000 – but colonial headquarters in Calcutta refused to make up the rest of the cost. When Tan died in 1864, the reservoir was no nearer completion.
Construction was eventually completed in 1868 but the pumps and distributing network were not finished until 1877. By this time, public confidence in the government's ability was dented.
In 1882, in a move to salvage its reputation, the Municipal Council erected a fountain in Fullerton Square in honour of Tan Kim Seng. The fountain was later to moved to Queen Elizabeth Walk, where it stands today.
In 1891, the holding capacity of the Impounding Reservoir or Thomson Reservoir, after its designer John Turnbull Thomson, was expanded to over 465 million gallons. Municipal Engineer James MacRitchie oversaw this $32,000 expansion and the reservoir was named after him in 1922. In the 1890s, he had urged the government to buy the Chasseriau Estate for use as a reservoir but it was not until much later that the purchase was made.
However, the reservoir's 4 million gallons a day were still insufficient to meet demand. Water was pumped into the reservoir from the upper section of Kallang River, one of the island's bigger sources of fresh water. Other fresh water supplies – Lower Peirce Reservoir and Seletar Reservoir – were completed in 1912 and 1920 respectively. However, the government realised that Singapore would not be able to meet its own fresh water needs. In 1927, a water treaty was signed with the Sultan of Johor. Singapore received its first supply of water from Johor in 1932 but Singapore is now more independent.
The development of the MacRitchie Reservoir brought the forest devastation around the area to a halt. The forest surrounding the reservoir has been protected as a water catchment reserve. The forested areas surrounding the other two reservoirs, Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir (formerly Seletar Reservoir) were also protected when these reservoirs were developed.
During World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore built a Shinto Shrine, Syonan Jinja,in the middle of the MacRitchie Reservoir forest in Singapore. When the British forces re-occupied Singapore, the Shrine was destroyed. However, ruins of the shrine remain and serve as a quaint piece of History accessible only to those willing to look for it, given its obscure location. The National Heritage Board declared the site a Historic Site in 2002, although no plans have been made public to develop or to protect the site.
[edit]Present
More than one square kilometre of primary forest still flourishes in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve today, particularly around MacRitchie Reservoir. Rubber trees, remnants of the plantations from the 19th century, can still be seen along the fringes around the reservoir.
There are boardwalks skirting the edge of the scenic MacRitchie Reservoir and walking trails through the forest. They range in distances from 3 km to 11 km. Interpretative signboards along the boardwalks allow for a self-guided tour along the fringes of the MacRitchie forest.
The boardwalk around the perimeter of the MacRitchie Reservoir brings the visitor through interesting secondary forest in the Central Catchment nature area. The boardwalk which hugs the reservoir also allows for easy exploration of freshwater wildlife. The Ant plant (Macaranga bancana.) and pitcher plants are common in the area.
In addition to the boardwalk, another popular attraction is the HSBC TreeTop Walk, a 250 m aerial free standing suspension bridge spanning Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang which are the two highest points in MacRitchie. The bridge was completed in July 2004, and the TreeTop Walk was officially launched on 5 November 2004. The structure, which is 25 m at its highest point, offers visitors a panoramic view of Upper Peirce Reservoir and the surrounding lush rainforest. Jelutong Tower also offers a view of the Singapore Island Country Club golf course and the MacRitchie Reservoir.
The 3.2 km and 4.8 km trails are still used as cross-country running routes for various inter-school competitions today.
Schools can be seen using the reservoir as a place for water sports such as canoeing and kayaking. There are certain competitions held there annually. A new amenities hub has been recently constructed following the opening of a multi storey car park. This is part of the renewal programme.
[edit]References
National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
[edit]See also
Syonan Jinja
[edit]Gallery
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: MacRitchie Reservoir
Sign to the treetop walk
The suspension bridge as part of the treetop walk
[edit]External links
National Parks Board, Central Catchment Nature Reserve - HSBC TreeTop Walk
360 interactive VR photo of MacRitchie Reservoir
SPI Investigates Syonan Jinja
[hide]v · d · eReservoirs in Singapore
Nature
Bedok · Jurong Lake · Kranji · Lower Peirce · Lower Seletar · MacRitchie · Marina · Murai · Pandan · Poyan · Pulau Tekong · Punggol · Sarimbun · Serangoon · Tengeh · Upper Peirce · Upper Seletar
Service
Changi Creek · Fort Canning · Jalan Eunos · Kallang · Murnane · Pearl's Hill · South End · Yishun
Planned
View page ratings
Rate this page
What's this?
Trustworthy
Objective
Complete
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I am highly knowledgeable about this topic (optional)
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Categories: Reservoirs in Singapore | Parks in Singapore | Visitor attractions in Singapore | Central Water Catchment
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RACE TO SAVE THE OLDEST CHINESE TOMBS
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The Straits Times 19 Aug 06
Race to save oldest Chinese tombs here
by Radha Basu
THE National Parks Board (NParks) has put on hold plans to dig up one of Singapore's oldest Chinese tombs following a petition from a group of heritage enthusiasts.
The tangible slice of history, dating back to the time this modern metropolis was a sleepy village fringed by jungle, was to have been removed to make room for a new extension to the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Tucked away at the foot of a sylvan slope near the former Singapore Management University campus, the tomb dates back to 1842, and holds the remains of a Chinese settler known as Qiu Zheng Zhi, who probably lived during Sir Stamford Raffles' time. His wife, Madam Li Ci Shu, is buried alongside in the simple grey structure with bright red engravings. Two other sets of tombs, also dating back to the 19th century, lie nearby. One of these, a bright orange structure with black engravings, was erected in 1881. Buried here are a Mr Huang Hui Shi and his wife, Madam Si Ma Ni.
The land, which lies on the fringes of the Botanic Gardens, was recently acquired by NParks and may be turned into landscaped horticultural displays.
Last week, three heritage enthusiasts, including Singapore Heritage Society president Kevin Tan, met NParks chief executive Ng Lang and Botanic Gardens director Dr Chin See Chung to ask that they save the tombs.
Yesterday, an NParks spokesman told The Straits Times the exhumation plans have been put on hold while the board tries to find out more about the people buried there. A final decision will be taken later.
Heritage enthusiasts, meanwhile, are hoping that the tombs will be spared.
Dr Tan, who is editing a book on Singapore cemeteries, believes the Qiu tomb to be the oldest 'in situ' Chinese tomb in Singapore, meaning it still remains at the site where it was first built.
'It is a miracle that the tombs survived so many generations and so much construction nearby,' said Dr Tan.
He was alerted to the possible possibile exhumation by two heritage-loving sisters, former National Archives official Ms Tan Beng Luan and teacher Ms Tan Beng Chiak. Earlier this year, they stumbled upon signs that the graves were to be exhumed.
The sisters felt these tombs should be saved simply because there are 'so few things in Singapore that are so old', said Ms Tan Beng Chiak, a biology teacher with a keen interest in history.
The ownership of the tombs' site in the Bukit Timah area has changed many times - from the old Botanic Gardens, to Raffles College, Singapore University, the National Institute of Education and the former Singapore Management University.
If preserved, the tombs could serve as important educational exhibits to teach students and visitors about the culture and practices of early Chinese immigrants, said Ms Tan Beng Chiak.
'Only with the knowledge of our past through tangible objects and not just in the pages on history books, will the young be able to feel a sense of belonging and rootedness,' she said.
Meanwhile, Ms Tan Beng Luan, a history researcher and pre-school principal, is keen to crack the mysteries of who these people were and where they came from.
The Qius, whose descendants may be the Khoos, may have come from Penang, she said, but she is not sure. Mr Huang came from China, though his wife may have been Indian or Eurasian.
Old maps of the area show that there was a gambier plantation at the site in the 1840s. By 1880, the land was under the British and part of the Botanic Gardens. An 'economic garden' had been built there to experiment with new cash crops - such as coffee, rubber and pepper - that could boost the local economy.
'We have no idea why the Huang tombs were allowed to be built right in the middle of the economic garden,' said Ms Tan Beng Luan.
She is now hoping that descendants of the two families will step forward to help solve the mysteries that have lasted more than a century.
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Related articles on Singapore: general environmental issues
Mac Ritchie water tomb
Keeptouch Community Portal > Special Interest > Paranormal Chats > Mc Ritchie water tomb
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View Full Version : Mc Ritchie water tomb
jnifur
25-04-2004, 03:45 PM
Wonder has this been discussed b4.
But one of my fren send me the email.
I personally have bypass this tomb many times b4.
The lastest visit was 2 yrs b4.
I was on a sample collection with my colleagues.
And my colleague went infront of the tomb n commented on the tomb n the date of deceased. I remember went there last Apr 2002. And after that I was sick for dunno how many months and got into a series of bad luck....dunno is it coincidence or have I accidentally Offended the person there :confused: :eek:
Haunted Places: McRitchie Water Tomb
The Mystery of McRitchie Water Tomb
This is a solitaire tomb that could be found at the logging track of MacRitchie reservoir
1. The tomb is facing a tranquil open view; 2. At both sides there are mud tracks; 3 & 4. Mysterious sea creatures found on shore
Mystery of year 1876 tombstone at MacRitchie
Tomb of the Unknown
(Source: The New Paper, By Lee Tee Jong, November 18, 2003)
WITHIN the tranquil MacRitchie Reservoir Park lies a 127-year-old mystery. A solitary tombstone dated 1876 stands beneath a canopy of mangrove trees along the Chemperai-Jering jogging trail. It is so old that even the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) does not have any record of its existence.
NAS said they only have cemetery burial records, exhumation records and death certificates dating after 1947.
Regular joggers speculate that the deceased was either a nobleman or an important official. Said Mr Raymond Lim, 60, a retiree who first saw the tombstone 30 years ago: 'The carvings are elaborate.
'From a geomancy point of view, the location is good - given its proximity to nature and water.' The throne-like tombstone, which is three steps from the water's edge, commands a panoramic view of the open reservoir and the surrounding greenery.
A row of red Chinese characters carved on the vertical slab reveals the year of death and the surname of the deceased as Fan. Over the years, the writing has become faint, and there are cracks running across the slabs. Algae is growing around the slabs and dead leaves encircle the tombstone, about half the size of a table-tennis table.
But there were signs that someone had been taking care of the tombstone. On the horizontal slab were two red candles, two big joss sticks, an urn filled with the joss stick butts, several blobs of melted wax, a pack of half-opened joss sticks and a lighter caked with mud. The giant joss sticks were damp and slightly bent in the rain. A broom and a sweeper lay against the branch of a mangrove tree two metres away.
Most joggers shied away from the tombstone. There are two jogging paths nearby, and most joggers chose the one that is further away. The occasional jogger who ran closer to the tombstone went behind it.
One of them, Mr Francis Teo, 40, said: 'I do not want to be disrespectful towards the deceased by running in front.'
The salesman, who has been jogging there for 20 years, had a theory about the tombstone. He said: 'I suspect the family might have wanted to put the tombstone at Bukit Brown cemetery near MacRitchie Reservoir but later placed it here to make it more exclusive.'
The Environmental Health Department of the National Environment Agency, which oversees the management of Government cemeteries, crematoria and columbaria, has no intention of removing the tombstone. Its officer, Mr Yip Kwok Hoong, said: 'Unless someone applies for an exhumation permit, we will not clear the tombstone.'
MacRitchie reservoir in yesteryears
First Reservoir: MacRitchie Reservoir
(Source: Raffles Computer Science Club)
When Singapore was founded as a British trading port, two groups of people came to depend on the island for water. One was the growing number of ships that called for goods and supplies including water. The other was the growing population of migrants drawn to the small island because of the opportunities for trade and money-making.
Fresh water came from wells and rivers but these became increasingly inadequate to cope with demand. As early as 1823, British Resident John Crawfurd proposed to spend 1000 dollars on a new reservoir and waterworks to supply water to the ships. Nothing came of the plan. In 1852, the government surveyor proposed a plan to tap the headwaters of the "Singapore Creek". The plan, if carried through, would have supplied some 2067 million cubic metres (546 million gallons) of water to the town. Nothing came of this scheme too.
In 1857, Straits Chinese merchant Tan Kim Seng decided to donate $13 000 towards improvements to the waterworks for the town. Some of the money was frittered away but eventually a scheme materialised to create an impounding reservoir in Thomson by constructing an earth embankment to impound water. Unfortunately, the projected cost of building the reservoir, which came to more than $100 000, could not be covered by Tan's gift. The colony was then governed from Calcutta, and the colonial government there declined to spend the large sum required to build the reservoir. So that it would not reflect badly on the colonial government, the Municipal Council decided to build a fountain to commemorate Tan's gift to the town. The fountain at Fullerton Square was unveiled in 1882, 18 years after Tan's death in 1864.
Eventually, the proposed impounding reservoir in Thomson was built and completed in 1867. The pumps and distributing network was not completed till 1877. 2 pumping stations were built at MacKenzie Road and Mount Emily. Singapore's first waterworks was officially opened in 1878, 20 years after Tan Kim Seng's philantrophic gesture
In 1891, the Impounding Reservoir, as it was then known, was further enlarged under the supervision of the Municipal Engineer James MacRitchie. MacRitchie Dam was enlarged between 1891 and 1894. The dam was further raised by 1.5m in the period 1903-1905 to increase its storage capacity. The cost of the extension was $32 000 and it increased the capacity of the reservoir to over 1840 million cubic metres (468 million gallons).
The enlarged reservoir was named the Thomson Road Reservoir in 1907 but in 1922, it was renamed MacRitchie Reservoir to recognise James MacRitchie's work.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the average daily supply of water was about 4 million gallons and it was not enough to meet demand. A combination of droughts and increased demand let to water shortages and more plans to increase the water supply. One plan was to channel water from the upper section of the Kallang River into the Thomson Road Reservoir. Another was to build a service reservoir in Pearl's Hill.
To take the water from the Upper Kallang, Thomson Reservoir was extended in 1905. The Kallang Tunnel Works were completed in 1907.
The informant, Mrs Kwong (with her maiden name 'Tai') shed some light on the water tomb mystery
Tomb Mystery and Shui Gui
(Source: an informant who is said to be related to the family descendents of the deceased of the tomb)
Many years ago, there wasn't any reservoir at where it is now called McRitchie reservoir. It was a very scenic hill. And who can guess the eerie tomb where most people shun away nowadays was once a romantic alcove? It was a protruding lookout point in the middle of a hiking track along the slope of a hill. From there the view was spectacular as it over looked a lush hilly landscape like a flowery meadow over the valley. Birds and wild monkeys over the hills sang in orchestra and the nature sounds filled the air.
The above mentioned romantic alcove was a meeting place for Fann and Lok (both are not real names). The alcove witnessed the most drastic emotions of mankind, put up by this couple, through life and death, joy, romance, betrayal, grief and tragedy.
The story happened near the end of 18th century. Fann was a sole daughter of a rich and famous family who run an import trading business with the British. Fann grew up in Britain and always loved nature. Her grew-up environment shaped her to be a bold and open-minded person. That was somewhat opposite to her father that was very traditional and rigorous - a typical Chinese business man who calculates gain and loss more than anything else. Since Fann was young, her family had arranged a marriage for her, that was common in the old days, with a son of a tycoon called Tai. Obviously building a marriage with a tycoon's son would benefit lifting Fann's family business to a new height.
However, Fann never wanted to submit to her fate. Being a girl of 20 years ago, she was autonomous enough to manage her own life. She left home from time to time and she would like to hang out at the scenic walks in McRitchie reservoir (that wasn't a reservoir in those days). That was a perfect place for some quiet moments, away from troubles. It became Fann's favourite sanctuary whenever she felt depressed.
Fann met her Mr. right at the reservoir one day. That was Lok. We didn't know much about Lok, not even our informant. We were told that Lok was a charismatic communist, a leader of some political group before the war who regularly organized gatherings near McRitchie reservoir area. It is their destiny that they bumped, they clicked and fell in love though they came from quite a different background.
Their dating at McRitchie reservoir lasted for some period of time. This couple always met there, fell in love and they vow to get married there with the witness of heaven and earth (the sky and the valley in McRitchie reservoir). They courted each other more and more often, until one day Fann's family got wind about this. As expected, Fann's father was very angry about this affair because her daughter was disobeying him, let alone the fact that Lok was a communist clan leader that was a natural enemy to a Pro-British business man. Fann's father and Tai's father plotted to do something patching up the situation. The arranged marriage had to proceed in only few months time anyway. They wouldn't allow Lok to interrupt about it.
On one fateful evening, as usual, Fann was expecting to meet Lok at their favorite spot in McRitchie reservoir. Instead of Lok, his fellow came and delivered her a letter. Nobody knows what was the content of the letter and who had actually written it. However, on the next morning, Fann's body was found dead at the bottom of the valley, just right under the lookout point where Fann always hanged out. Again, nobody knows whether she jumped down, pushed down or fell down by accident.
After Fann's death, the wedding arranged between the two families of course had to be cancelled. Hence, Fann's family business, without the help of tycoon Tai, plunged down very soon and eventually got bankrupt.
But still, the tycoon's son, Tai loves Fann very much. That was what the public could have seen about. He spent a lot of money and took Fann to be buried at the lookout point with a splendid tomb. The grand tomb had a very superb facing, overseeing the hills across the valley. Many years later, however, McRitchie reservoir was developed into a water catchments area, and the valley turned into a water reservoir as it is of today. Water filled up the valley, to the level of the tomb, flooding even the lower part of it. This is how the name water tomb came about.
How our informant knows so much about? She claimed that she was a relative to Tai but refused to elaborate more. The concealment led us to speculate that there was something dirty that the Tai family had done but we just cannot verify without any evidence.
Under much persistence, our informant finally admitted that Tai's family had done something to intervene into Fann's relationship with Lok, but not with any intent to have her killed. The informant told us another secret too, relating to the choice of location where Fann was buried.
Most people would think that Tai so loved Fann (although it was one way) that he had been so nice to build her a posh tomb. The truth was otherwise.
We were told that Lok was actually murdered in the same year after Fann died, and Fann's body was found to be pregnant by the doctors in hospital. People know that Lok was killed too in a riot but it was actually a plot arranged in purpose. Here is the most intriguing thing. Lok's body was buried in Bukit Brown cemetery (aka Kopi Hill cemetery). That was the idea by his dialect clan leader who in turn was controlled by Tai's family. And Fann's body was offered to be buried at the lookout point that happened to be on the opposite site of the hill.
In other words, Fann and Lok were buried between and separate by a hill, back-to-back. So they never face each other. All these were arranged by Tai! You can see how jealousy turned into hatred, and into revenge.
Since then, Fann's grave was nicked as water tomb. Even more frightening, people believe that is very haunted. Sightings of a female apparition emerging from water are common at night. Some call it Shui Gui (water ghost).
Our informant continued telling. Nowadays the decedents of Tai's family realized what their grandfather had done is tremendously wrong. They feel guilty about it, especially after they heard that the Shui Gui which is believed to be Fann's spirit was haunting the reservoir. They used to invite monks to perform rituals trying to appease the soul but that doesn't help. Till now, Tai's family has been funding a contractor to come and sweep the tomb regularly. Every year they will bring offerings by themselves to the tomb during festivals like Ching Ming and July Hungry Ghost Month.
This is a fair world, when planting a good deed, you will receive a good reward. Likewise a crime will invite mishap. God knows what they have done. Tai's family seems to be cursed. The grandfather and the father were both drown to death, though not in McRitchie reservoir. It wasn't long ago. The father at his late age had developed some mental problem. He was kept at home all the time. But for some unknown reason, one day he sneaked away alone, and found drown in a sewage drain mysteriously. It was classified as an unnatural death by the police, and was reported on news last year.
One last thing that the informant told us. If we want to know whether Fann's spirit is around, throw a coconut into the water. If it floats, that means no spirit. If it sinks, that shows Fann's spirit is around!
That is all our informant shared with us. She looked quite sad at the end of the interview. She kept murmuring to herself "Wrath, such is wrath, how I wish Fann's spirit will be in peace". Yes, SPI too, wishes Fann's spirit would rest in peace.
Pictorial Tour
1. On a fateful midnight, SPI Ah-Toh and SPI Azri set out to investigate the McRitchie water tomb; something seems to be following Azri
2. This is the kind of quiet and eerie tracks they were walking in;
3. Along the way, an exceptional bright orb that looks like a fire ball was captured, it was as if coming to our way!
4. After about 20 minutes of night walk in the dark, they entered the Jering Track that was built over the water
1.Toh and Azri suddenly stopped. Look! Some mysterious water stains. From this photo it looks something has crawled up
and went back down to the water. What is this?? Here is a closer look
2. A little further up, another water stain was found. They are too small to be footprints.
There are several more, and they just appear in the middle of the wooden track. See this one. Werid!
3. This water stain has mud, obviously it is from the muddy water down there. See these photos from another angle (1) (2).
4. Azri and Toh were studying on the mysterious water marks, little they know that some spiritual force was tailing them from behind...
1 & 2. "Watch out" Toh suddenly said. It big tree growing side way was blocking our way. Our heads almost hit on it. Another view.
This big tree looks spooky from a distance. 3. In contrast to it, there is a small tree growing in the water. Another view.
4. After this bay, we will soon reach the water tomb. Our hearts were thumbing fast.
1. Here is the infamous water tomb! 2. On top of it placed a row of joss sticks. Closer view.
3. The frontal view of the tomb, notice the joss stick urn, bottle of tea leaves and a glass jar that has cigarette lighters inside.
Someone must have come regularly and offer incense.
4. The water level just nicely hits the top wedge of the tomb, covering the lower parts of it. See the flooding on the left and on the right
1. Behind the tomb it was a dense bush; 2. We tried bash in and check if there are any similar tombs inside, but the trees are too dense
3. This is the soil where the deceased laying underneath. Just a note though, the roots may have grown all the way down.
Wouldn't the body be badly disturbed by the overgrown tree roots? How would the dead feel comfortably resting among the roots?!
4. Right on top of the tomb, you can see the curling twigs and branches of the dense trees.
Usually the branches of the trees resemble the web structure of their roots.
So you can imagine how messy the roots would be down there. How would then the buried RIP?
All the photos you see above are taken with camera flash.
The actual situation was, in the midst of the eerie water facing the water tomb, in total darkness.
In order to check out more information about the tomb, we had to turn on our searchlight.
However, smart Azri suggested we shone the light on the silver tea leave bottle instead of the tomb stab directly which is rude.
We spent some effort to recognize the faint inscription on the stab stone. Finally we got it, that would help our research.
We felt more and more spooked at this water tomb. The feeling was though something was watching at us.
When Kenny was busy writing down the stab inscription, Azri and Toh sensed and heard something getting more and more disturbing.
In the background sound of crickets from the bush, slight bubbling noise were emerging from the water.
The noise from the water although was faint, it was scary enough to feel that something was swimming towards us, especially in the dark.
Legends of water ghost go as that they would grab your foot to make you drown, even in shallow paddle of water.
"Kenny, hurry up, there could be crocodiles in this area", Toh warned. And the bubbling noise got louder and louder, nearer and nearer.
Without hesitation, Azri turned the searchlight to the water, and we saw........ (!!)
Answering Mysteries
1. Can anybody verify the mystery of the water tomb?
2. How did the deceased lady now resting in the tomb die?
3. Why was that tomb chosen to be located there?
4. Does water ghost exist in McRitchie reservoir?
Come share your views with us!
j20_sg
25-04-2004, 04:21 PM
saw wad?!~ crocodiles? apprition? spi saw wad?
hmm...walked arnd macritchie be4...nvr seem to haf seen this tomb be4...
lyk13
25-04-2004, 04:48 PM
I remember this water tomb was discussed on a tv show last time....forgot liaoz, then SPI webby also have, but I seemingly never see it before....any other experiences by fellow forumers?
. lala .
25-04-2004, 05:17 PM
I saw the pic on the SPI website. Migosh. It's really freaky!! :eek:
ShuLL
25-04-2004, 07:46 PM
yup...read abt it a few days ago on SPI webby...really eerie...
xx357xx
25-04-2004, 09:01 PM
read it when i entered the SPI webby too.. quite spooked out tat nite after reading it.. heh heh.. i wonder wad will happen if the govt reli do dig it up and transfer it somewhere.. haha..
chayedan
26-04-2004, 01:28 AM
I tout the tomb was lim bo seng tomb??
dennis
26-04-2004, 08:02 AM
hmm i think those of us going for a photo shoot this sat (see Keeptouch Events for more info) better avoid this area :grin:
jnifur
02-05-2004, 09:17 PM
I saw that tomb before...at the canopy of pond there.
Strangely enough, last sat went mac ritchie bypass the canopy never saw it.
The last time I been there...I saw...and I was sick....
Yesterday I went...never see...but today still sick...
Maybe weather not gd lah :ls:
xxevilicexx
04-05-2004, 02:47 PM
but wat did the SPI guys saw actually? cant figure out from the pic :confused:
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jnifur
25-04-2004, 03:45 PM
Wonder has this been discussed b4.
But one of my fren send me the email.
I personally have bypass this tomb many times b4.
The lastest visit was 2 yrs b4.
I was on a sample collection with my colleagues.
And my colleague went infront of the tomb n commented on the tomb n the date of deceased. I remember went there last Apr 2002. And after that I was sick for dunno how many months and got into a series of bad luck....dunno is it coincidence or have I accidentally Offended the person there :confused: :eek:
Haunted Places: McRitchie Water Tomb
The Mystery of McRitchie Water Tomb
This is a solitaire tomb that could be found at the logging track of MacRitchie reservoir
1. The tomb is facing a tranquil open view; 2. At both sides there are mud tracks; 3 & 4. Mysterious sea creatures found on shore
Mystery of year 1876 tombstone at MacRitchie
Tomb of the Unknown
(Source: The New Paper, By Lee Tee Jong, November 18, 2003)
WITHIN the tranquil MacRitchie Reservoir Park lies a 127-year-old mystery. A solitary tombstone dated 1876 stands beneath a canopy of mangrove trees along the Chemperai-Jering jogging trail. It is so old that even the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) does not have any record of its existence.
NAS said they only have cemetery burial records, exhumation records and death certificates dating after 1947.
Regular joggers speculate that the deceased was either a nobleman or an important official. Said Mr Raymond Lim, 60, a retiree who first saw the tombstone 30 years ago: 'The carvings are elaborate.
'From a geomancy point of view, the location is good - given its proximity to nature and water.' The throne-like tombstone, which is three steps from the water's edge, commands a panoramic view of the open reservoir and the surrounding greenery.
A row of red Chinese characters carved on the vertical slab reveals the year of death and the surname of the deceased as Fan. Over the years, the writing has become faint, and there are cracks running across the slabs. Algae is growing around the slabs and dead leaves encircle the tombstone, about half the size of a table-tennis table.
But there were signs that someone had been taking care of the tombstone. On the horizontal slab were two red candles, two big joss sticks, an urn filled with the joss stick butts, several blobs of melted wax, a pack of half-opened joss sticks and a lighter caked with mud. The giant joss sticks were damp and slightly bent in the rain. A broom and a sweeper lay against the branch of a mangrove tree two metres away.
Most joggers shied away from the tombstone. There are two jogging paths nearby, and most joggers chose the one that is further away. The occasional jogger who ran closer to the tombstone went behind it.
One of them, Mr Francis Teo, 40, said: 'I do not want to be disrespectful towards the deceased by running in front.'
The salesman, who has been jogging there for 20 years, had a theory about the tombstone. He said: 'I suspect the family might have wanted to put the tombstone at Bukit Brown cemetery near MacRitchie Reservoir but later placed it here to make it more exclusive.'
The Environmental Health Department of the National Environment Agency, which oversees the management of Government cemeteries, crematoria and columbaria, has no intention of removing the tombstone. Its officer, Mr Yip Kwok Hoong, said: 'Unless someone applies for an exhumation permit, we will not clear the tombstone.'
MacRitchie reservoir in yesteryears
First Reservoir: MacRitchie Reservoir
(Source: Raffles Computer Science Club)
When Singapore was founded as a British trading port, two groups of people came to depend on the island for water. One was the growing number of ships that called for goods and supplies including water. The other was the growing population of migrants drawn to the small island because of the opportunities for trade and money-making.
Fresh water came from wells and rivers but these became increasingly inadequate to cope with demand. As early as 1823, British Resident John Crawfurd proposed to spend 1000 dollars on a new reservoir and waterworks to supply water to the ships. Nothing came of the plan. In 1852, the government surveyor proposed a plan to tap the headwaters of the "Singapore Creek". The plan, if carried through, would have supplied some 2067 million cubic metres (546 million gallons) of water to the town. Nothing came of this scheme too.
In 1857, Straits Chinese merchant Tan Kim Seng decided to donate $13 000 towards improvements to the waterworks for the town. Some of the money was frittered away but eventually a scheme materialised to create an impounding reservoir in Thomson by constructing an earth embankment to impound water. Unfortunately, the projected cost of building the reservoir, which came to more than $100 000, could not be covered by Tan's gift. The colony was then governed from Calcutta, and the colonial government there declined to spend the large sum required to build the reservoir. So that it would not reflect badly on the colonial government, the Municipal Council decided to build a fountain to commemorate Tan's gift to the town. The fountain at Fullerton Square was unveiled in 1882, 18 years after Tan's death in 1864.
Eventually, the proposed impounding reservoir in Thomson was built and completed in 1867. The pumps and distributing network was not completed till 1877. 2 pumping stations were built at MacKenzie Road and Mount Emily. Singapore's first waterworks was officially opened in 1878, 20 years after Tan Kim Seng's philantrophic gesture
In 1891, the Impounding Reservoir, as it was then known, was further enlarged under the supervision of the Municipal Engineer James MacRitchie. MacRitchie Dam was enlarged between 1891 and 1894. The dam was further raised by 1.5m in the period 1903-1905 to increase its storage capacity. The cost of the extension was $32 000 and it increased the capacity of the reservoir to over 1840 million cubic metres (468 million gallons).
The enlarged reservoir was named the Thomson Road Reservoir in 1907 but in 1922, it was renamed MacRitchie Reservoir to recognise James MacRitchie's work.
By the beginning of the 20th century, the average daily supply of water was about 4 million gallons and it was not enough to meet demand. A combination of droughts and increased demand let to water shortages and more plans to increase the water supply. One plan was to channel water from the upper section of the Kallang River into the Thomson Road Reservoir. Another was to build a service reservoir in Pearl's Hill.
To take the water from the Upper Kallang, Thomson Reservoir was extended in 1905. The Kallang Tunnel Works were completed in 1907.
The informant, Mrs Kwong (with her maiden name 'Tai') shed some light on the water tomb mystery
Tomb Mystery and Shui Gui
(Source: an informant who is said to be related to the family descendents of the deceased of the tomb)
Many years ago, there wasn't any reservoir at where it is now called McRitchie reservoir. It was a very scenic hill. And who can guess the eerie tomb where most people shun away nowadays was once a romantic alcove? It was a protruding lookout point in the middle of a hiking track along the slope of a hill. From there the view was spectacular as it over looked a lush hilly landscape like a flowery meadow over the valley. Birds and wild monkeys over the hills sang in orchestra and the nature sounds filled the air.
The above mentioned romantic alcove was a meeting place for Fann and Lok (both are not real names). The alcove witnessed the most drastic emotions of mankind, put up by this couple, through life and death, joy, romance, betrayal, grief and tragedy.
The story happened near the end of 18th century. Fann was a sole daughter of a rich and famous family who run an import trading business with the British. Fann grew up in Britain and always loved nature. Her grew-up environment shaped her to be a bold and open-minded person. That was somewhat opposite to her father that was very traditional and rigorous - a typical Chinese business man who calculates gain and loss more than anything else. Since Fann was young, her family had arranged a marriage for her, that was common in the old days, with a son of a tycoon called Tai. Obviously building a marriage with a tycoon's son would benefit lifting Fann's family business to a new height.
However, Fann never wanted to submit to her fate. Being a girl of 20 years ago, she was autonomous enough to manage her own life. She left home from time to time and she would like to hang out at the scenic walks in McRitchie reservoir (that wasn't a reservoir in those days). That was a perfect place for some quiet moments, away from troubles. It became Fann's favourite sanctuary whenever she felt depressed.
Fann met her Mr. right at the reservoir one day. That was Lok. We didn't know much about Lok, not even our informant. We were told that Lok was a charismatic communist, a leader of some political group before the war who regularly organized gatherings near McRitchie reservoir area. It is their destiny that they bumped, they clicked and fell in love though they came from quite a different background.
Their dating at McRitchie reservoir lasted for some period of time. This couple always met there, fell in love and they vow to get married there with the witness of heaven and earth (the sky and the valley in McRitchie reservoir). They courted each other more and more often, until one day Fann's family got wind about this. As expected, Fann's father was very angry about this affair because her daughter was disobeying him, let alone the fact that Lok was a communist clan leader that was a natural enemy to a Pro-British business man. Fann's father and Tai's father plotted to do something patching up the situation. The arranged marriage had to proceed in only few months time anyway. They wouldn't allow Lok to interrupt about it.
On one fateful evening, as usual, Fann was expecting to meet Lok at their favorite spot in McRitchie reservoir. Instead of Lok, his fellow came and delivered her a letter. Nobody knows what was the content of the letter and who had actually written it. However, on the next morning, Fann's body was found dead at the bottom of the valley, just right under the lookout point where Fann always hanged out. Again, nobody knows whether she jumped down, pushed down or fell down by accident.
After Fann's death, the wedding arranged between the two families of course had to be cancelled. Hence, Fann's family business, without the help of tycoon Tai, plunged down very soon and eventually got bankrupt.
But still, the tycoon's son, Tai loves Fann very much. That was what the public could have seen about. He spent a lot of money and took Fann to be buried at the lookout point with a splendid tomb. The grand tomb had a very superb facing, overseeing the hills across the valley. Many years later, however, McRitchie reservoir was developed into a water catchments area, and the valley turned into a water reservoir as it is of today. Water filled up the valley, to the level of the tomb, flooding even the lower part of it. This is how the name water tomb came about.
How our informant knows so much about? She claimed that she was a relative to Tai but refused to elaborate more. The concealment led us to speculate that there was something dirty that the Tai family had done but we just cannot verify without any evidence.
Under much persistence, our informant finally admitted that Tai's family had done something to intervene into Fann's relationship with Lok, but not with any intent to have her killed. The informant told us another secret too, relating to the choice of location where Fann was buried.
Most people would think that Tai so loved Fann (although it was one way) that he had been so nice to build her a posh tomb. The truth was otherwise.
We were told that Lok was actually murdered in the same year after Fann died, and Fann's body was found to be pregnant by the doctors in hospital. People know that Lok was killed too in a riot but it was actually a plot arranged in purpose. Here is the most intriguing thing. Lok's body was buried in Bukit Brown cemetery (aka Kopi Hill cemetery). That was the idea by his dialect clan leader who in turn was controlled by Tai's family. And Fann's body was offered to be buried at the lookout point that happened to be on the opposite site of the hill.
In other words, Fann and Lok were buried between and separate by a hill, back-to-back. So they never face each other. All these were arranged by Tai! You can see how jealousy turned into hatred, and into revenge.
Since then, Fann's grave was nicked as water tomb. Even more frightening, people believe that is very haunted. Sightings of a female apparition emerging from water are common at night. Some call it Shui Gui (water ghost).
Our informant continued telling. Nowadays the decedents of Tai's family realized what their grandfather had done is tremendously wrong. They feel guilty about it, especially after they heard that the Shui Gui which is believed to be Fann's spirit was haunting the reservoir. They used to invite monks to perform rituals trying to appease the soul but that doesn't help. Till now, Tai's family has been funding a contractor to come and sweep the tomb regularly. Every year they will bring offerings by themselves to the tomb during festivals like Ching Ming and July Hungry Ghost Month.
This is a fair world, when planting a good deed, you will receive a good reward. Likewise a crime will invite mishap. God knows what they have done. Tai's family seems to be cursed. The grandfather and the father were both drown to death, though not in McRitchie reservoir. It wasn't long ago. The father at his late age had developed some mental problem. He was kept at home all the time. But for some unknown reason, one day he sneaked away alone, and found drown in a sewage drain mysteriously. It was classified as an unnatural death by the police, and was reported on news last year.
One last thing that the informant told us. If we want to know whether Fann's spirit is around, throw a coconut into the water. If it floats, that means no spirit. If it sinks, that shows Fann's spirit is around!
That is all our informant shared with us. She looked quite sad at the end of the interview. She kept murmuring to herself "Wrath, such is wrath, how I wish Fann's spirit will be in peace". Yes, SPI too, wishes Fann's spirit would rest in peace.
Pictorial Tour
1. On a fateful midnight, SPI Ah-Toh and SPI Azri set out to investigate the McRitchie water tomb; something seems to be following Azri
2. This is the kind of quiet and eerie tracks they were walking in;
3. Along the way, an exceptional bright orb that looks like a fire ball was captured, it was as if coming to our way!
4. After about 20 minutes of night walk in the dark, they entered the Jering Track that was built over the water
1.Toh and Azri suddenly stopped. Look! Some mysterious water stains. From this photo it looks something has crawled up
and went back down to the water. What is this?? Here is a closer look
2. A little further up, another water stain was found. They are too small to be footprints.
There are several more, and they just appear in the middle of the wooden track. See this one. Werid!
3. This water stain has mud, obviously it is from the muddy water down there. See these photos from another angle (1) (2).
4. Azri and Toh were studying on the mysterious water marks, little they know that some spiritual force was tailing them from behind...
1 & 2. "Watch out" Toh suddenly said. It big tree growing side way was blocking our way. Our heads almost hit on it. Another view.
This big tree looks spooky from a distance. 3. In contrast to it, there is a small tree growing in the water. Another view.
4. After this bay, we will soon reach the water tomb. Our hearts were thumbing fast.
1. Here is the infamous water tomb! 2. On top of it placed a row of joss sticks. Closer view.
3. The frontal view of the tomb, notice the joss stick urn, bottle of tea leaves and a glass jar that has cigarette lighters inside.
Someone must have come regularly and offer incense.
4. The water level just nicely hits the top wedge of the tomb, covering the lower parts of it. See the flooding on the left and on the right
1. Behind the tomb it was a dense bush; 2. We tried bash in and check if there are any similar tombs inside, but the trees are too dense
3. This is the soil where the deceased laying underneath. Just a note though, the roots may have grown all the way down.
Wouldn't the body be badly disturbed by the overgrown tree roots? How would the dead feel comfortably resting among the roots?!
4. Right on top of the tomb, you can see the curling twigs and branches of the dense trees.
Usually the branches of the trees resemble the web structure of their roots.
So you can imagine how messy the roots would be down there. How would then the buried RIP?
All the photos you see above are taken with camera flash.
The actual situation was, in the midst of the eerie water facing the water tomb, in total darkness.
In order to check out more information about the tomb, we had to turn on our searchlight.
However, smart Azri suggested we shone the light on the silver tea leave bottle instead of the tomb stab directly which is rude.
We spent some effort to recognize the faint inscription on the stab stone. Finally we got it, that would help our research.
We felt more and more spooked at this water tomb. The feeling was though something was watching at us.
When Kenny was busy writing down the stab inscription, Azri and Toh sensed and heard something getting more and more disturbing.
In the background sound of crickets from the bush, slight bubbling noise were emerging from the water.
The noise from the water although was faint, it was scary enough to feel that something was swimming towards us, especially in the dark.
Legends of water ghost go as that they would grab your foot to make you drown, even in shallow paddle of water.
"Kenny, hurry up, there could be crocodiles in this area", Toh warned. And the bubbling noise got louder and louder, nearer and nearer.
Without hesitation, Azri turned the searchlight to the water, and we saw........ (!!)
Answering Mysteries
1. Can anybody verify the mystery of the water tomb?
2. How did the deceased lady now resting in the tomb die?
3. Why was that tomb chosen to be located there?
4. Does water ghost exist in McRitchie reservoir?
Come share your views with us!
j20_sg
25-04-2004, 04:21 PM
saw wad?!~ crocodiles? apprition? spi saw wad?
hmm...walked arnd macritchie be4...nvr seem to haf seen this tomb be4...
lyk13
25-04-2004, 04:48 PM
I remember this water tomb was discussed on a tv show last time....forgot liaoz, then SPI webby also have, but I seemingly never see it before....any other experiences by fellow forumers?
. lala .
25-04-2004, 05:17 PM
I saw the pic on the SPI website. Migosh. It's really freaky!! :eek:
ShuLL
25-04-2004, 07:46 PM
yup...read abt it a few days ago on SPI webby...really eerie...
xx357xx
25-04-2004, 09:01 PM
read it when i entered the SPI webby too.. quite spooked out tat nite after reading it.. heh heh.. i wonder wad will happen if the govt reli do dig it up and transfer it somewhere.. haha..
chayedan
26-04-2004, 01:28 AM
I tout the tomb was lim bo seng tomb??
dennis
26-04-2004, 08:02 AM
hmm i think those of us going for a photo shoot this sat (see Keeptouch Events for more info) better avoid this area :grin:
jnifur
02-05-2004, 09:17 PM
I saw that tomb before...at the canopy of pond there.
Strangely enough, last sat went mac ritchie bypass the canopy never saw it.
The last time I been there...I saw...and I was sick....
Yesterday I went...never see...but today still sick...
Maybe weather not gd lah :ls:
xxevilicexx
04-05-2004, 02:47 PM
but wat did the SPI guys saw actually? cant figure out from the pic :confused:
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