Last Update: 2nd May 2015
Note: The list of buildings in here are by no mean exhaustive, and I look forward to adding more buldings / photos / data as and when I have new information.
Tanjong Pagar is a real treasure trove for heritage lovers. Located near to the old docks, it was an enclave for the droves of Chinese and Indian dock workers who had flocked to colonial Singapore during the mid-19th century in search of work and a better life.
Before the intervention of the British, the place was known as Selintar and home to the Orang Laut of the area. It is assumed that the place was renamed 'Tanjong Pagar' (Cape of Stakes) after deriving it from the presence of numerous kelongs and their bakau (a common mangrove found in Singapore & Malaysia) stakes jutting out from the sea at the nearby Tanjong Malang promontory.
Some believe that the place owes its name to the many wharves in the area which, in Malay, is called dermaga. Alternate sources cite that Tanjong Pagar could possibly be a corruption of the earlier name Tanjong Passar (old British spelling), which was the name of a road that led from South Bridge Road to the fishing village.
Rumour has it that two of the seats were permanently 'occupied' with the belief that they were haunted. Patrons who were unfortunate to be assigned those seats would be harassed by invisible forces throughout the entire movie.
Metrolpole Theatre was closed in 1985 and the building was bought over by Fairfield Methodist Church in 1986 for a handsome sum of 2.75 million dollars. The church still occupies the building to the present day.
Note: The list of buildings in here are by no mean exhaustive, and I look forward to adding more buldings / photos / data as and when I have new information.
Tanjong Pagar is a real treasure trove for heritage lovers. Located near to the old docks, it was an enclave for the droves of Chinese and Indian dock workers who had flocked to colonial Singapore during the mid-19th century in search of work and a better life.
Before the intervention of the British, the place was known as Selintar and home to the Orang Laut of the area. It is assumed that the place was renamed 'Tanjong Pagar' (Cape of Stakes) after deriving it from the presence of numerous kelongs and their bakau (a common mangrove found in Singapore & Malaysia) stakes jutting out from the sea at the nearby Tanjong Malang promontory.
Some believe that the place owes its name to the many wharves in the area which, in Malay, is called dermaga. Alternate sources cite that Tanjong Pagar could possibly be a corruption of the earlier name Tanjong Passar (old British spelling), which was the name of a road that led from South Bridge Road to the fishing village.
Fairfield Methodist Church (Former Metropole Cinema)
Presently the home of Fairfield Methodist Church, this building was built in 1958 as the Metropole Theatre (金華大戯院), one of three famous cinemas in Chinatown. The other two are Majestic Theatre (along Eu Tong Sen Street) and Oriental Theatre (along New Bridge Road).
The 1,200 seat cinema (huge for its time!) is situated at the junction of Maxwell and Tanjong Pagar Road and screened Mandarin films predominantly. It was owned by the Kong Ngee Film Company, a film studio that produced numerous iconic Cantonese films in the 1950s and 1960s. Venus Cinema in Queenstown was also owned by the same company.
Metrolpole Theatre was closed in 1985 and the building was bought over by Fairfield Methodist Church in 1986 for a handsome sum of 2.75 million dollars. The church still occupies the building to the present day.
Jinrikisha Station
Built in 1903 at the junction of Neil Road and Tanjong Pagar Road, the Jinrikisha Station was, as its name suggests, a station where one could hail a rickshaw back in the old days.
Its location was ideal for commuters travelling from the nearby docks through the adjacent thoroughfare that led to Singapore town. Such was the popularity of rickshaws that there were some 9,000 rickshaws manned by 20,000 rickshaw pullers working in shifts in 1919. However, by the time the second World War ended, rickshaws were phased out by government legislation.
The building was once used as a family planning clinic. It was also one of the first buildings in Tanjong Pagar to be restored by the URA in 1987. There are restaurants, shops, offices and nightclubs (the last one is a particular eyesore in my opinion) in the present building.
The pilasters, pediment, square tower and cupola facing the junction are icons of Tanjong Pagar Road and its surroundings.
Its location was ideal for commuters travelling from the nearby docks through the adjacent thoroughfare that led to Singapore town. Such was the popularity of rickshaws that there were some 9,000 rickshaws manned by 20,000 rickshaw pullers working in shifts in 1919. However, by the time the second World War ended, rickshaws were phased out by government legislation.
The building was once used as a family planning clinic. It was also one of the first buildings in Tanjong Pagar to be restored by the URA in 1987. There are restaurants, shops, offices and nightclubs (the last one is a particular eyesore in my opinion) in the present building.
The pilasters, pediment, square tower and cupola facing the junction are icons of Tanjong Pagar Road and its surroundings.
Airview Building (Former New Asia Hotel)
The Airview Building was built in 1924 and co-owned by the Yeung Ching Foundation and Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital to fund the expenses of both Yeung Ching School and the hospital.
The building was leased out to New Asia Hotel in the same year and it was one of the most well-known hotels during that period. Owned by Cantonese businessmen, the roof top of the building was home to a reputable Cantonese restaurant where many wedding banquets for the wealthy were held.
The hotel faced stiff competition in the 1970s as several luxurious hotels emerged in the area; the facilities of New Asia Hotel paled in comparison and it ceased its business in 1974. The building was subsequently refurbished into a commercial building for lease.
The building was leased out to New Asia Hotel in the same year and it was one of the most well-known hotels during that period. Owned by Cantonese businessmen, the roof top of the building was home to a reputable Cantonese restaurant where many wedding banquets for the wealthy were held.
The hotel faced stiff competition in the 1970s as several luxurious hotels emerged in the area; the facilities of New Asia Hotel paled in comparison and it ceased its business in 1974. The building was subsequently refurbished into a commercial building for lease.
Red Dot Design Museum (Former Traffic Police Headquarters)
The Traffic Police Office (then known as the Police Barracks & Traffic Office) first started operations in this building on 27 January 1930 after moving over from the Central Police Station on South Bridge Road. It took two years to complete the building after the tender offer from a Mr. Sin Tong was accepted by the government in 1928.
The Traffic Police would remain in the building for 69 years before they would move out to their new home along Ubi Avenue 3 on 28 November 1999; a convoy of Traffic Police motorcycles traveled from Maxwell to Ubi to mark the move. During their tenure, the building was expanded several times to cater to the increasing numbers in the Traffic Police force. The ROV Driving Test was also conducted here during the 1970s.
The office was once said to be in a 'shocking state of affairs' where touts and middlemen roamed to help people obtain or renew their provisional licenses. This was strongly criticized by a magistrate who ordered that the office be cleared up in 1953. Another interesting incident would be a burglary which took place at the office in 1959, where the thieves made off with $3,000. A police spokesman later described the stolen cash as 'revenue'.
In November 2005, the building was converted to the Red Dot Design Museum, which showcases innovative product designs and acts an event and exhibition venue. A respected German design institution, the Maxwell Road museum is the second such Design Museum opened by Red Dot in the world.
Nanyang Khek Community Guild
The Traffic Police would remain in the building for 69 years before they would move out to their new home along Ubi Avenue 3 on 28 November 1999; a convoy of Traffic Police motorcycles traveled from Maxwell to Ubi to mark the move. During their tenure, the building was expanded several times to cater to the increasing numbers in the Traffic Police force. The ROV Driving Test was also conducted here during the 1970s.
The office was once said to be in a 'shocking state of affairs' where touts and middlemen roamed to help people obtain or renew their provisional licenses. This was strongly criticized by a magistrate who ordered that the office be cleared up in 1953. Another interesting incident would be a burglary which took place at the office in 1959, where the thieves made off with $3,000. A police spokesman later described the stolen cash as 'revenue'.
In November 2005, the building was converted to the Red Dot Design Museum, which showcases innovative product designs and acts an event and exhibition venue. A respected German design institution, the Maxwell Road museum is the second such Design Museum opened by Red Dot in the world.
The Nanyang Khek Community Guild was established by Aw Boon Haw (of Tiger Balm and Haw Par Villa fame) in 1928. Aw was born in Rangoon to a Hakka family that originated from Yongding District (永定) in Fujian province.
Former Chinese Kindergarten and Primary School
The former three-storey Chinese Kindergarten and Primary School (星洲幼稚园学校) at 32 Tras Street was established by Reverend J.A.B. Cook of the English Presbyterian Mission in 1921 and the building was designed by Swan and Maclaren.
The foundation stone was laid by Sir Theodore Fraser on 22 December 1924 and it was declared open by Mr. Tan Che Beng, Chairman of the Board of Directors, on 1 July 1927. In 1991, the kindergarten was relocated to Jubilee Church at Outram Road and Club Royce, an entertainment centre, currently occupies the building.
The foundation stone was laid by Sir Theodore Fraser on 22 December 1924 and it was declared open by Mr. Tan Che Beng, Chairman of the Board of Directors, on 1 July 1927. In 1991, the kindergarten was relocated to Jubilee Church at Outram Road and Club Royce, an entertainment centre, currently occupies the building.
C.K. Tang Corporate Office (Former Maxwell Outpatient Dispensary)
The C.K. Tang Corporate Office on Kadayanallur Street T-Junction was originally home to the Maxwell Outpatient Dispensary, which started operations on 26 September 1964 after its opening graced by Mr. Ong Pang Boon, the then-Minister of Education. It has changed hands a few times and it is presently occupied by the corporate office of local retailers, C.K. Tang.
