Local History Badge by TEO HWEE QI STUDENT

Questions to answer

teo_hwee_qi1 — 2023-08-21 12:50:30 UTC

1. What is this place?
2. What is the story behind this place?/What was this area at one point?/What is this place about?
3. Any interesting discoveries about the topic of this place?
4. Show some photos!

Hwee Qi (Kingfisher)

teo_hwee_qi — 2023-09-05 13:12:45 UTC

1. This place is Punggol Point Park.
2. The Punggol Beach was one of the three main sites in Singapore where the Sook Ching Massacre took place. The killngs were done on a large-scale basis, as the Japanese sent many men who were suspected of being anti-Japanese to be shot dead and exterminated. The victims who perished were hastily discarded into the sea or left abandoned on the foreshore.
3. The remains of some victims of the Sook Ching massacre were discovered by beachgoers and fishermen. In March 1977, a skull was brought to light when a man dug a hole in the sand around the area. In December 1997, a beachgoer found a gold tooth belonging to a victim's skull near the shore.

gaile (orchid)

2023-09-06 06:50:01 UTC

1.This is the Memorial to the civilian victims of the Japanese Occupation aka Civilian War Memorial

2. A heritage landmark as well as a memorial located next to Suntec City and Esplanade MRT, near Singapore's Padang and City Hall
it was established as a memorial for all the civilian lives that were lost during the 1942-1945 Japanese Occupation.
It was unveiled 56 years ago, August 1967

3. The memorial was built on a burial chamber that housed 606 urns containing remains of unknown civilians who were exhumed from mass graves
Apart from the lives lost during the occupation, it also commemorates the unity of the 4 main races in Singapore (Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Eurasian)

Sze Xuan (Dove)

2023-09-06 16:47:02 UTC

1. This is the Sultan Mosque.
2. In 1819, Sultan Hussein signed an agreement with Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company allowing the British to establish a trading post on the island. Hussein then requested for a mosque to be built near his istana (Malay for “palace”) in Kampong Glam. Raffles agreed and contributed $3,000 to the construction of the mosque. Completed in 1826, the original mosque was a single-storey building with a double-tiered roof. The mosque holds great significance for the Muslim community and is considered the national mosque of Singapore. It was designated a national monument in 1975.
3. In 1950, due to its location in Kampong Glam, the mosque found itself at the centre of racial riots sparked by the Maria Hertogh case. Rioters hid in the mosque and were later dispersed by Muslim police officers who entered the mosque with the permission of the Chief Kathi (Kadhi). Also, fun fact about the Mosque’s reconstruction: North Bridge Road was actually forced to bend around the mosque as it was extended beyond Arab Street!

Caithriona (orchid)

2023-09-08 10:41:51 UTC

This is the Stamford arts center
2.The Stamford Assembly Rooms is built on St George’s Square. Public assemblies became popular across the UK with dance the most important feature. Other activities included playing cards, taking tea and gossiping. Now the ballroom is the earliest surviving example in Britain.
The site was originally leased in 1727 from the Earl of Exeter by Askew Kirk, who was a dancing master. It was a condition of the lease was that the Assembly Room be built. Kirk died in 1738, but assemblies continued. One such event took place in 1816 when, for a price of 5 shillings patrons were able to enjoy a cup of tea, a game of cards and an evening of dancing. The event was attended by The Marchioness of Exeter, son The Marquess, the Earl and Countess of Lonsdale, the Earl of Harborough, The Earl of Winchilsea and Miss Finch, Lord Brudenell and many others from the fashionable society of that period. So basically it was built by foreigners instead of Singaporeans
3.Built in the 1920s by the Japan Club and used as a Japanese elementary school up till WWII, Stamford Arts Centre consists of three different blocks constructed in the Neo-Classical and Art Deco styles that has undergone changes in use and inhabitants over the last few decades.

Li Hui (Kingfisher)

2023-09-08 12:15:57 UTC

1. This is the National Gallery of Singapore

2. It was utilised as City Hall and Supreme Court previously. The City Hall Chamber has witnessed some of Singapore's most important moments. Singapore's founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew was sworn into office on June 5, 1959, and Yusof Ishak was inaugurated as the nation's first head of State a few months later on December 3, 1959.

These events occurred in the same place the British accepted the surrender of the Japanese, formally ending the Japanese Occupation of Singapore on September 12, 1945.

3. There is a hidden time capsule buried under the foundation stone of the former Supreme Court Building, laid by the Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas. Inside the time capsule are some Singapore newspapers dating back to March 31, 1937, and a handful of Straits Settlements coins. It is due to be unveiled in year 3000

Kai Wen (Dove)

2023-09-09 03:50:55 UTC

1. This is the Old Hill Street Police Station

2. Constructed in 1934, the main purpose of this building was to deal with the increasing number of Chinese secret societies. This building occupied Singapore's first prison and the old Assembly Rooms of the Town Hall. It was the second ever police station in Singapore to have living quarters built for police officers. The living quarters had offices and garages, built with rooms to support around 335 working personnel. On the 25th anniversary of King George V's reign, the building was temporarily named the Silver Jubilee Building. In 1998, it went through a restoration of $82-million restoration. Currently, it is occupied by the Ministry of Communications and Information.

3. The surrounding area of this building was alleged to resemble the peh toh, a Chinese New Year fish which was a sign of good luck. However, many Chinese residents believed that it disrupted the feng-shui of the area.

shuhui (orchid)

2023-09-09 12:08:42 UTC

1. This is Haw Par Villa

2. The Haw Par Villa, a luxurious mansion situated atop a hill at Pasir Panjang, was commissioned by Chinese businessman Aw Boon Haw to serve as a residence for his brother Aw Boon Par. Completed in 1937, the villa was designed by architect Ho Kwong Yew and featured opulent, gold gilded domes.Both brothers were famous for being the creators of a popular pain-relieving ointment called Tiger Balm, and the fortune made from selling the product helped fund the expensive building project. The grounds surrounding the villa were developed into an oriental theme park known as the Tiger Balm Gardens, which featured sculptures depicting various hellish scenes from Chinese folklore. While the villa has since been demolished, the theme park, now referred to simply as Haw Par Villa, continues to function mainly as a tourist attraction.

3. Located on a hill in Pasir Panjang, Haw Par Villa was once known as Tiger Balm Gardens. Lovingly built by Myanmar-born businessman Aw Boon Haw for his brother, Aw Boon Par, the park was named after the Tiger Balm medical ointment that the siblings' father had created.

Hannah(sunflower)

nanahannah312 — 2023-09-11 03:59:30 UTC

1. The Arts house
2.The Arts House in Singapore was originally known as the Old Parliament House. It served as the seat of the Singaporean Parliament from 1827 to 1999. After the government relocated to a new Parliament House, the Old Parliament House was refurbished and repurposed into a multi-disciplinary arts venue, known as The Arts House, which has been hosting various cultural and artistic events since its transformation.
3.One interesting aspect of The Arts House in Singapore is its historical significance. The building, known as the Old Parliament House, has witnessed key moments in Singapore's history, including the declaration of self-governance in 1959 and the formation of the Republic of Singapore in 1965. It's not only a hub for contemporary arts and culture but also a living part of Singapore's political heritage, making it a unique and culturally rich venue for artistic expression and events.

chloe (kingfisher)

2023-09-11 07:35:01 UTC

1. this is the watermelon playground at tampines central Park
2. Besides animals, dinosaurs, the old playgrounds in Singapore were also designed to take the shape of fruits, and namely local favourites. build in 1989, this watermelon playground was designed as a nod to the fruit farms of rural tampines before the town was developed. and this is now the last watermelon playground still standing in tampines
3. one interesting discovery of this watermelon playground is that this old playground was cleverly designed, complete with holes on the walls that look like the seeds of the real watermelon! furthermore, this playground is creatively shaped like a slice of watermelon, the playground structures are decorated with red, white , yellow and green mosaic tiles to resemble the flesh and skin of a watermelon and the playground really looks like an actual watermelon to me

Jiayi (Dove)

2023-09-14 14:22:36 UTC

1)This is the Civilian War Memorial of the Victims of the Japanese Occupation.

2)During the Japanese Occupation, an operation known as Sook Ching was carried out in which the Japanese set out to eliminate any anti-Japanese elements and propaganda in the Chinese community.
Chinese males from 18 to 50 years old were interrogated and rounded up over the course of two weeks – those suspected of being anti-Japanese were executed cruelly.
Areas like Punggol Beach (now Punggol Point), Changi Beach, Sentosa and others are known to be execution sites. It was only in 1962 that several mass war graves were uncovered in Siglap during sandwashing operations. After further investigations, more human remains were found in mass war graves in other parts of Siglap and Changi Road. Up till today, the total number of people killed during the occupation is still unknown due to conflicting records. It is estimated to be anywhere between 6,000 to 50,000.

3) The memorial was built on a burial chamber that housed 606 urns containing remains of unknown civilians who were exhumed from mass graves. Apart from the lives lost during the occupation, it also commemorates the unity of the 4 main races in Singapore (Chinese, Indian, Malay, and Eurasian).

Megan (Orchid)

2023-09-15 02:09:57 UTC

1. This is Haw Par Villa
2. The Haw Par Villa is a place where it shows many different sculptures and figures of hell. When you first enter, you will see a pond filled with turtles and food which you have to be hinest enough and pay for although no one checks if you did, called the honesty box. You will see many sculptures of Taoist/ Buddhist representations like 'Guan Yin' and 'Buddha'. There is an aircon room which is ticketed and shows you a film, where you learn about different religions. There is also a guided part which you can partake in telling you what Taoism says what hell is like and the consequences of your bad deeds.
3. It is located at Pasir Panjang Road. The owners are also the owners of Tiger Balm.

Bernice(dove)

2023-09-15 06:12:28 UTC

1 - this is Anderson bridge
2 - The bridge was completed in 1910, and was named after the Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1904–1911), Sir John Anderson, who officially opened the bridge on 12 March 1910. It forms part of the Singapore Grand Prix's Marina Bay Street Circuit, which debuted on 28 September 2008.
3 - During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore (1942–1945), the severed heads of criminals were hung on Anderson Bridge as a warning to discourage citizens from breaking the law.

sharmaine

2023-09-15 06:33:27 UTC

1. This is Old Hill Street Police Station

2. From 1915 to 1935, the Singapore Police Force went through a reorganisation and several police stations were built to deal with increasing Chinese secret society activities. This led to the construction of the Hill Street Police Station building, which was completed in 1934. The building was designed by Frank Dorrington Ward, then chief architect of the Public Works Department (1930–1939). It occupied the site of Singapore's first prison, and the old Assembly Rooms of the Town Hall. It became the second police station in the pre-war years, other than Pearl’s Hill Police Station, to have living quarters for police personnel. In 1935, on the 25th anniversary of the reign of King George V, the building was briefly renamed the Silver Jubilee Building to commemorate the occasion.

3. The Old Hill Street Police Station is a six-storey building covering a total floor area of 25,000 sq m. It was built in a typical Neoclassical style that characterised many public buildings in England during the 1930s. The facade is symmetrically designed with balconies, arcades, columns and rough surface masonry blocks. The building is structured into long thin blocks that surround two internal courtyards. Outwards, the view from each room faces the streets and inwards, the courtyards.

shanice (orchid)

2023-09-15 15:23:26 UTC

This is Tampines Round Market & Food Centre. The story behind this place is that in the early 1980s, HDB envisioned the phasing out of traditional wet markets in response to changing lifestyles and the growing popularity of supermarkets. Hence, the Round Market was expected to be one of the last few wet markets to be built. Tampines Round Market and Food Centre went under a two-month revamp on 7 July 2019, with improvements such as better ventilation and bird spikes to keep avian pests away. Child seats will be made available in a month's time, and a new drop-off point is in the works as part of plans to improve the place.

Ashley (kingfisher)

2023-11-03 23:59:59 UTC

1.Fort siloso is a decommissioned coastal artillery battery in Sentosa.

2.The word "Siloso" of the fort's name is derived from a Malayan word meaning "rock".

3.There was a huge rock at the mouth of Singapore's harbour which imposed a hazard to passing shipping.

enting ( sunflower )

2023-11-04 04:32:36 UTC

1) This place is old hill street police station.

2) From 1915 to 1935, the Singapore Police Force went through a reorganisation and several police stations were built to deal with increasing Chinese secret society activities. This led to the construction of the Hill Street Police Station building, which was completed in 1934.

3) An interesting fact is that the surrounding area, including the location where the building stands today, was said to resemble the peh toh, a chinese new year fish that symbolises good fortune. However, when the building was erected, the Chinese who used to live there believed that it disrupted the good feng shui of the area.

Mellisa (SUNFLOWER 🌻

2023-11-05 05:58:30 UTC

1) This is Fort Gate, Located in: Fort Canning Park

2) The fort served two purposes - to protect Singapore from attack by sea, and to give Singapore's European population a refuge in the event of local disturbances. The fort wall that you now see is a fragment of the strong wall that surrounded the summit of this hill.

Marsya (Dove Patrol)

2023-11-05 10:29:41 UTC

This is the MacDonald House
It was bombed on 10th March 1965 by two indonesians during the Konfrontasi
The low-intensity conflict was launched by Indonesia's president Sukarno to “crush Malaysia”, of which Singapore was a part from 1963 to 1965. He was opposed to the formation of Malaysia, which also comprised Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah, which Sukarno described as a neo-colonialist plot.