Walk Singapore's Colonial District

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Designed by Keyes and Dowdeswell, this building was completed in 1928 at the mouth of the Singapore River as a final expression of classical Art Deco architecture that once dominated the financial district. A tour around will revealed a graceful interior adorned with heavy moulding and ornamentation, typical of this style. Named after Robert Fullerton (Governor of Singapore, 1826-1829), it was built primarily to house the General Post Office. Other bodies which once occupied the premises include the exclusive Singapore Club and the Inland Revenue Department. It now houses the Fullerton Hotel.

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This bridge with its elegant suspension struts is the third to be built and is the only suspension bridge in Singapore. Named after Major General Orfeur Cavenagh (Governor of the Straits Settlement, 1859-1867), it was constructed in 1869 to allay the inconvenience of crossing the Singapore River by boat. On the side of the bridge near The Fullerton Singapore (previously Fullerton Building), you'll spot a family of Singapura Cats ( kucinta or drain cats), recognised as one of the smallest breeds of cats in the world.

Our Local Expert Says:

An impressive collection of artefacts in a modern and interactive exhibition.

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The excellent Asian Civilisations Museum is housed in the Empress Building, a beautiful colonial building that presides over the Singapore River. The museum was set up to promote a better understanding of the rich cultures that make up Singapore's multi-ethnic society, so the eleven themed galleries explore Singapore's different ancestral groups, originating from China, South East Asia, South Asia and West Asia. The exhibition occupies over 14,000 square feet and safeguards over 13,000 artefacts.

A series of multimedia and interactive elements, including virtual hosts, add interest and fun to the experience, while interactive ExplorAsian zones help bring the galleries to life for children.

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One of the Sir Raffles Statues, the founder of Singapore, is at the center of this square situated on the bank of the Singapore River at North Boat Quay in the heart of the Civic District. Raffles is said to have landed on this site January 28th, 1819, and as the plaque on the statue reads: "changed the destiny of Singapore from an obscure fishing village to a great seaport and modern metropolis." Made of pure white polymarble, the statue is a cast of the original effigy located in front of the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall.

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The Old Parliament House is probably Singapore's oldest surviving structure, even though it has been renovated so many times it no longer looks the way it was originally constructed. It was designed as a home for John Argyle Maxwell, a Scottish merchant, but he never moved in. In 1822, Raffles returned to Singapore and was furious to find a residence being built on ground he'd allocated for government use. So the government took over Maxwell's house for its court and other offices. In 1939, when the new Supreme Court was completed, the judiciary moved into Maxwell's House (as it became officially known); then, in 1953, following a major renovation, the small structure was renamed Parliament House and was turned over to the legislature.

The original house was designed by architect George D. Coleman, who had helped Raffles with his Town Plan of 1822. Coleman's design was in the English neo-Palladian style. Simple and well suited to the Tropics, this style was popular at the time with Calcutta merchants. Major alterations have left very little behind of Coleman's design, replacing it with an eclectic French classical style, but some of his work survives.

Today the building has been transformed...

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With a handsome façade of columns, arches and an elegant clock tower, this impressive building displays a hybrid of Renaissance and classical elements. Originally the Singapore Town Hall, the Victoria Theatre's left wing was erected in 1862. The right wing was added in 1905 as a tribute to Queen Victoria. This historical venue witnessed the trials for Japanese war criminals connected to the massacre of Chinese civilians during World War II. Adjacent buildings were subsequently converted into an art gallery and a home for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Today, with a seating capacity of 904, it retains the original façade and is a choice venue for top theatre, concert and dance performances.

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This large field has witnessed its share of historical events. Bordered on one end by the Singapore Recreation Club and on the other end by the Singapore Cricket Club, and flanked by City Hall, the area was once known as Raffles Plain. Upon Raffles's return to the island in 1822, he was angry that resident Farquhar had allowed merchants to move private residences into the prime area he had originally intended for government buildings. All building permits were rescinded, and the Padang became the official center point for the government quarters, around which the Esplanade and City Hall were built.

Today the Padang is mainly used for public and sporting events -- pleasant activities -- but in the 1940s, it felt more forlorn footsteps when the invading Japanese forced the entire European community onto the field. There they waited while the occupation officers dickered over a suitable location for the "conquered." They ordered all British, Australian, and Allied troops, as well as European prisoners, on the 22km (14-mile) march to Changi.

An interesting side note: Frank Ward, designer of the Supreme Court, had big plans for the Padang and surrounding buildings. He would have demolished...

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Facing the Singapore Recreation Club at the southwestern end of a long open field, The Padang is Singapore's second oldest surviving social club. Founded in 1852, the Singapore Cricket Club carries a nostalgic colonial charm with its brown-tiled roof, whitewashed walls and dark green blinds. It used to be the exclusive stronghold of the British elite and other Europeans, who would dine here and watch sporting events on The Padang. After World War II, the "all-white" policy was abolished and its membership was expanded to include Asians and Eurasians. Today, it remains accessible only to its members and their guests.

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Adjacent to the Supreme Court is the older, more elegant City Hall that houses government ministries. Constructed in 1929, it is distinguished by the Corinthian colonnade and the huge flight of steps beneath. It witnessed the surrender of Japan to the British in 1945 and Lee Kuan Yew's declaration of Singapore's independence from Britain 14 years later. Lee returned here again in 1965 to declare Singapore a nation independent of Malaya. The Multimedia Gallery screens presentations on the Singapore Judiciary. A two-week notice is required if you are interested to see the rest of the interior. Admission is free.

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The Esplanade Park, also known as Queen Elizabeth Walk, is home to three of Singapore's monuments, the Cenotaph (a World War I memorial), and two others built in honor of a philanthropist, Tan Kim Seng, and a war martyr, Lim Bo Seng. Created from a series of reclamation projects, the small park is a pleasant venue for a leisurely stroll, commanding an excellent view of the colonial district. At the southwestern end of the park, the city's tourism icon, the Merlion, can be seen guarding the mouth of the Singapore River.

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Designed by George Coleman; erected on a site selected by Sir Stamford Raffles himself; named for the patron saint of Scotland, St. Andrew; and primarily funded by Singapore's Scottish community, the first St. Andrew's was the colonials' Anglican Church. Completed toward the end of the 1830s, its tower and spire were added several years later to accord the edifice more stature. By 1852, because of massive damage sustained from lightning strikes, the cathedral was deemed unsafe and torn down. The cathedral that now stands on the site was completed in 1860. Of English Gothic Revival design, the cathedral is one of the few standing churches of this style in the region. The spire resembles the steeple of Salisbury Cathedral -- another tribute from the colonials to Mother England. Not only English residents, but Christian Chinese, Indians, Continental Europeans, and Malays consider this to be their center of worship.

The plasterwork of St. Andrew's inside walls used a material called Madras chunam, which, though peculiar, was a common building material here in the 1880s. A combination of shell lime (without the sand) was mixed with egg whites and coarse sugar or jaggery until it took on...

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Located opposite Raffles City Shopping Centre is the War Memorial Park, where a 67-metre high landmark stands in remembrance of some 40,000 to 50,000 lives lost during the Japanese Occupation. Built in 1964, it is better known to locals as the 'Chopsticks Memorial' with its four tapered columns symbolising the four main races - Malay, Chinese, Tamil and 'Others' (including Eurasian and European). A short walk from the City Hall MRT station, this imposing white structure is situated in a beautiful setting of flowers and fountains.

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Its heyday might have been around 1912, but this all-suite hotel has become a Singapore icon. This is where tourists flock to savor the Singapore Sling, and the well-heeled and famous seek respite. It lies near major convention centers, Boat Quay and the Financial District. The Grand Dame accommodates the desires of both day-trippers and residents with 13 food and beverage outlets and lavishly gorgeous suites. She might have been somewhat hedonistic, somewhat colonial but she is always faultlessly elegant. For some, Raffles is Singapore.