Radin MasA T A L E O F H I L L S

– H E R I T A G E T R A I L

Radin Mas is a beautiful place that combines the old rustic charm with modern feel. We have many interesting places like the grand dame SIT flats, the culturally-rich black-and-white colonial houses, the tranquil Carmelite Monastery and the new kid on the block – The Henderson Waves Bridge. This heritage is very much alive and wanting to capture its essence comes very naturally to us. The Trail Book is our way of preserving the history and heritage. We wish to showcase the unique appeal of Radin Mas and make it easy for everyone to appreciate and understand. I invite you to turn the next few pages and embark on a discovery journey.

Sam TanMP for Tanjong Pagar GRC

A note from the MP

ContentsKampong Radin Mas 02Black and White Bungalows 04Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque 06Tomb of Raden Mas Ayu, Tanah Kubur Diraja 08Mount Faber 10

Bukit Purmei 14Carmelite Monastery 16Tang Gak Beo (The Eastern Hell Temple) 18St Teresa Church 20

Thousand Buddha Hill 22Henderson Waves 24Telok Blangah Hill 26

Bukit Merah 28Zhen Long Gong 3021 Blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats 32Bukit Merah Central 34

Map of Trail 36Editorial Committee & Acknowledgement 37

Kampong Radin Mas was a small Malay village situated on the foothills

of Mount Faber in Telok Blangah. In its location now are a condominium and the Telok Blangah Rise HDB estate.

Mr Wan Hussein, an ex resident of Kampong Radin Mas still remembers the big field and old Radin Mas Primary School that were located at the foot of Mount Faber. Students would play soccer at the field after school everyday as this was the main pastime. During the school’s sports day, the whole kampong would join in to support their children.

Golden VillagesKampong Radin Mas

At night, the field would be transformed into an open air theatre where everyone would gather and pay 10 cents to watch movies. This was the only entertainment for the residents then. There was also a Chinese provision shop located near the main road. It served as a gathering and information exchange point for the residents as news were passed around quickly there.

Mr Hussein adds, “Radin Mas Primary School has moved to its present site at Bukit Purmei in 1984. My kampong and childhood can only remain in my memory and this sense of longing is especially strong every time I pass by Mount Faber and the remaining colonial bungalows.”

Mr Hussein’s sister, Madam Wan Fatimah also recalls the days when her family were staying in the kampong.

Open field at Kampong Radin Mas

Old Radin Mas Primary School

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Old picture of Telok Blangah estate taken from Mount Faber

“All Malay kampong houses were built on stilts, unlike the Chinese houses that sat on land and we drew our water from wells in the kampong. Neighbours staying at the kampong were very friendly and we took care of one another. There was no need to lock

the doors as compared to now as everyone knew that their neighbours would help to look after their houses during their absence. There was community spirit and everyone lived harmoniously together, regardless of races.” ¤

Old picture of Marang tombs

Malay village at Kampong Radin Mas

Kampong Radin Mas

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With its rich heritage and lush greenery, the Radin Mas

neighbourhood was a popular area for the rich to build their homes in the mid 20th century.

Black-and-white houses were the rage among the European immigrants between 1930 and 1960, characterised by their black timbers and white infill panels.

The style was developed in the 1920s to the 1930s in Europe and the United States and was adopted by the colonial migrants when they set up home on this island.

These double-storied bungalows exhibit the characteristics of the Art Deco style – simple, geometric lines of classical

motifs on the facades. They were built with reinforced concrete frames and more traditional timber floor boards on timber joists. Other defining features include a broad,

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Art Houses Black and White Bungalows

A typical double-storied bungalow in the old days

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“It is always my dream to live in a black-and-white house, and this one embodies my perception of living in a colonial bungalow. And where else can you live in a place visited every so often by the insects and the wildlife – monkeys, snakes and toads? I love the nature.”

Ms Fen Tonge, who moved into one of the houses with her family two years ago

Black And White Bungalows

simple, over-hanging hipped roof and sharp definition of openings in the plain white walls.

To maximise air and shade, they were built with verandahs, louvered balustrades, air vents and deep eaves. The effect is a clean, uncluttered space of luxurious living.

Today, because of their unique architecture and history, these houses are gazetted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority as heritage buildings, and are mostly rented by expatriates. ¤

Address: 10 Mount Faber Road Nearest MRT Station: Harbour Front MRTNearest bus stop: 10, 30, 65, 80, 85, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166, 507, 176, 188, 61, 855, 963(Alight at bus stop opposite Vivo City)

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It is hard to miss this whitewashed building with jade green roofs opposite

VivoCity on Telok Blangah Road. The mosque, built in 1890, is named after the chief of Singapore, Johor and Riau in the late 19th century. When Stamford Raffles returned to Singapore in 1824 for his second visit, Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim signed the treaty with him to cede Singapore to the British empire.

As Raffles had plans to develop the area around Singapore River, where the Temenggong and his subjects had settled, he convinced the royal family to move to Telok Blangah. Others, including Arab and Indonesian

immigrants, followed, and the area grew into a Malay enclave.

The mosque, now managed by the Johor government, used to be the reception hall of the Temenggong’s residence. It remains as a gathering place during Friday prayers, when hundreds of Muslims gather for religious lectures and blessings. Within the sprawling compounds lies the Johor’s Royal Mausoleum, where Temenggongs and their followers in the 19th century are buried wrapped in royal

yellow cloth. It is the resting place of many rulers, including Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, who died in 1862, and his father Temenggong Abdul Rahman, who died in 1825.

For the more adventurous, trek through

Residence of the TemenggongTemenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque

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the nearby forest along Marang Road to find another Muslim cemetery, abandoned for many years. Rediscovered only accidentally by a group of trekkers in early 2008, only parts of a brick wall that fenced the cemetery remain.

The several dozens of tombs are believed to be the final resting place for the inhabitants of Kampong Marang, forgotten after a big fire. ¤

Temmenggong Daeng Ibrahim Mosque

Fast factsTelok Blangah was also known as Kampung Temenggong because of the resettlement of the Temenggong and his followers to the area. The village slowly fell in shambles after families of the Temenggong uprooted and moved to Johor Baru in 1864.

Address: 30 Telok Blangah Road Opening Hours: Daily 5.50am – 10pm Nearest MRT Station: Harbour Front MRTNearest bus stop: 10, 30, 65, 80, 85, 97, 100, 131, 143, 145, 166, 507, 176, 188, 61, 855, 963(Alight at bus stop opposite Vivo City)

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Some say that Radin Mas got its name from the Princess who rests now under

the historical tomb at the foot of Mount Faber.

The beautiful and tragic tale of Javanese princess Raden Mas Ayu began in the 16th century. She was the daughter of a king and a Javanese court dancer, whose beauty was renowned throughout Java. Their marriage was objected by the king’s parents, who deemed the dancer too lowly to wed the king. When the king was away for a hunting expedition, his palace was set on fire, killing his wife. Heartbroken, the king moved to Singapore with his princess and settled down in Telok Blangah.

The king remarried a daughter of a Temenggong in Singapore but the new wife was jealous of the close relationship between the king and Princess Raden Mas Ayu. It did not help that the princess inherited the beauty of her mother. The new wife forced her stepdaughter to marry an evil Tengku. On their wedding day, the groom attacked the princess’ father. To defend her father, Princess Raden Mas Ayu was stabbed by the Tengku’s kris and died in 1511.

Tomb of Raden Mas Ayu

The Royal Malay Archipelago Tombs

Today, the tomb is saved from disrepair from descendents of the royal family’s subjects. Nearby is the tomb of her father. If you are lucky, you might meet Mr Zainol Daeng, who is the unofficial caretaker of the tomb since his retirement. His great grandfather had worked for the king.

Address: Mount Faber Road(Opposite Mount Faber Lodge Apartment)Opening Hours: Daily 9am – 6pmBus at nearest bus stop: 409 Park Service(Alight after Mount Faber Lodge Apartment and walk)(Park service only operate on Saturday/Sunday/Public Holiday)

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The Royal Indonesian Tombs

Tanah Kubur DirajaAbout 15 minutes walk from the princess’s

resting place lies another royal graveyard found among HDB blocks at Bukit Kasita (now known as Bukit Purmei).

However, exactly who are buried hereremains a mystery. However, the graveyard’s name Tanah Kubur Diraja or “Royal Family Graveyard” likely refers to the Malay sultanate and kings during the early 16th century, who originated from Jambi, a northern state in Sumatra.

Within the arched wall ruins of the graveyard are tombstones wrapped in yellow

Address: 532 Kampong Bahru RoadNearest bus stop: 124 143 166 61(Alight at bus stop outside Blk 102 Bukit Purmei Road and walk)

cloth – yellow being the colour of royalty.According to some Islamic historians,

the graveyard was opened in 1530 by Sultan Alaudin Riayat Shah the second, who was the seventh descendent of Sultan Iskandar Zulkarnain Shah, better known in Singapore folklore as Sang Nila Utama.¤

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At 105m in height, Mount Faber may seem rather diminutive as a

“mount”. Nonetheless, the hill, named after Captain Charles Edward Faber, the superintending engineer in the Straits in the mid 19th century, offers a spectacular view of Singapore, particularly the towering skyscrapers in the Central Business District. It is also the home of Jewel Box, which houses chic restaurants, function rooms, and a cable car station for rides to HarbourFront and Sentosa island.

Hill with a ViewMount Faber

Before walking an easy 15 minute route up to the “peak”, stop by the marina deck, which offers great photography opportunites amid the lush green foliage, blue skies and white clouds. It was erected on the site of a former signal station set up by Captain Faber, who built a narrow winding road to the summit for the station.

The station was formerly on Sentosa (known then as Pulau Blakan Mati) before it was moved to Mount Faber (then Tulloh Blangah Hill). The signal Station and flagstaff were on the hill till the early 1970s when the government closed the station. Now in its place is a restaurant catering mostly to tour groups.

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Mount Faber

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Continue your journey up to Faber Point, the highest point of Mount Faber. Spend a few coins on the mounted binoculars, you can see clearly the railway station in Tanjong Pagar, the packed HDB blocks of Queenstown and Alexandra, the busy streets of the central business district, and even Sentosa on the horizon. Look-out points will help identify these places.

Tourists and locals alike will also enjoy strolling around this circular platform, which is decorated with copper-tooled mural panels, featuring the colourful history and lifestyle of Singapore. A favourite is the last panel, depicting the food scene in Singapore, that will sure to remind you of your appetite after the walk up the hill. Don’t forget to take a picture of the Merlion too, the lion-headed fish-bodied emblem of Singapore tourism.

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Mount Faber

Address: Mount Faber Road Nearest MRT Station: Harbour Front MRT (Alight at Harbour Front MRT and board cable car at Harbour Front Tower Two, Cable Car Station) Nearest bus stop: 409 Park Service (Park service only operate on Saturday/Sunday/Public Holiday)

If you are heading down from the west side of the hill, make a visit to the Golden Bell Mansion on Pender Road. With its white washed walls and a tower shaped like a Buddhist stupa, the building was once a stopover to a famous historical figure – Dr Sun Yat Sen.

The Chinese revolutionary leader spent the night of Dec 11, 1911, after his arrival from Europe, at the residence of rich businessman Tan Boo Liat, the great-grandson of Tan Tock Seng. Dr Sun’s wife, three daughters and their maid also stayed there as a layover stop while on the way to Penang from China. After Mr Tan Boo Liat died in Shanghai in 1934, the house was sold.

The house fuses sensibilities of colonial and Straits Chinese architecture. Note the star-shaped holes under the roof, a feature of many Peranakan homes. It is now occupied by the Danish Seaman’s Church, formed in 1985. Activities include Danish language classes for children and adults. Members of the church also board any visiting Danish ships to provide amenities such as newspapers. ¤

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Village by the RailwayBukit Purmei

defunct now except for De La Salle School which has since moved to Choa Chu Kang.

Nearby, there was a railway track leading to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. Many children would cross the track to reach their schools on the other side. Residents living on both sides would also trek across to reach the other side. It was noisy and dirty for those

Mr Toh Lam Huat, a veteran journalist

and his elder brother Mr Toh Kheng Guan recollect their childhood spent in the kampong.

“There was a Chinese kampong that was home to about 300 to 500 “attap” houses and also some small farms between the present Silat Road and Kampong Bahru Road.

Most of the men in my kampong worked in Harbour Board while the women worked in the nearby rubber factories. There were many English and Chinese schools along Kampong Bahru – Sacred Heart Boys School, St Teresa Sino-English School (also known as Hua Ying Primary School) and St Teresa High School, all of which were

Sketch of Bukit Purmei in 1971

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living nearby but no one was bothered by it as it had become a part of their life. However, we had heard of cases whereby people were hit by trains as they were not careful when crossing the track. In time to come, all the tracks were fenced up to prevent further accidents. Now, I shuddered at the thought of how dangerous it was to walk around the track.”

Ex-resident of Nelson Road, Mr Samiappan also reminisces about his younger days working at Singapore Habour Board.

“I stayed at Nelson Road after I started working at Singapore Harbour Board (replaced by Port of Singapore Authority in 1964). The Nelson Road residences were built for Harbour Board

employees who were mainly Indians and Chinese.

Most workers would walk along Nelson Road to reach Gate 5, one of the entrances to Harbour Board. Many push cart hawker stalls could be found lined up along this road, selling all sorts of local food to the workers. As we worked on shifts around the clock, food could be found anytime there. In addition to the hawker stalls, there were numerous provision shops and a privately owned wet market that sold daily necessities. The entire area was alive with activities and functioned very much like a mini town centre.

After my retirement, Nelson Road residences were demolished to make way for the Keppel Distripark.” ¤

Bukit Purmei

Nelson Road residences

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A Nun’s HomeCarmelite Monastery

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Tucked quietly on a hillock at Bukit Teresa Road, this sanctuary with a beautiful

garden is the only Carmelite monastery in Singapore. Nuns, about 20 of them who have dedicated themselves to their faith, call the place home, leading simple solitude lives. The Carmelites of the Roman Catholic order has origins that go back to 12th century Palestine. This monastery in Singapore was founded in 1938 by a French nun named Mother Therese Des Anges at the invitation of the Bishop of Malacca. It was part of a Catholic village settlement which consisted of six bungalows and ten barrack houses for the Catholic community

The nuns rarely go out of the grounds barely half the size of a football field. They spend most of their days in prayers but make “altar bread” or communion hosts, sew religious robes and make candles and Christmas cards for sale through the Catholic Welfare Service.

Visitors may also come to ask for prayers from the nuns when the common hall of the monastery is open to the public from 9am to 11am and 2pm to 5pm every day, except during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) and Advent, which is from Dec 2 to Christmas. ¤

Carmelite Monastery

Address: 106 Bukit Teresa RoadOpening Hours: Church is only open during Mass: Monday to Saturday: 6.30am, Sunday 7.30amNearest bus stop: 61, 124, 143, 166 (Alight at bus stop in front of the St Teresa Church on Kampung Bahru Road and walk)

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Hail the UnderworldTang Gak Beo (The Eastern Hell Temple)

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Tang Gak Beo

Hell is no place anyone wants to be. So a temple, named after the biggest region

of the underworld according to Taoist beliefs, must be a place to avoid.

In reality, Tang Gak Beo is visited by many, as devotees make their offerings to the ruler of the Eastern Hell for protection and peace of mind.

Look out for the two idols of Hei Bai Wu Chang, or the Heartless Black and White Demons, which are a rarity in Taoist temples. These two were guards of the Chinese Hell whose tasks were to bring the souls of the dead to hell for sentencing by the King of the Hell.

However, this temple, with more than 100 years of history, is not just about the scares. This building, which has just been renovated in recent years, was constructed using the ancient Chinese architectural methods – no nails were used in the mish-mash of columns and beams. On Sundays, you might catch mediums performing rites for the deceased or even wedding ceremonies between the living and the dead.

Between the fifth and fifteen day of the Lunar New Year, you will also find many devotees making their offerings to Tai Sui, a deity in the temple. It is believed that those whose Chinese Zodiac clashes with the Tai Sui should pray to the deity seeking peace and good fortune throughout the year. ¤

Address: 6 Bukit Purmei Road Opening Hours: Daily 7am – 4.45pm(Every 1st and 15th day of the Lunar calendar month: 6am – 4.45pm)Nearest bus stop: 61, 124, 143, 166(Alight at bus stop outside St. Teresa Church and walk)

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Local priest Fr Stephen Lee then took over as head of the Chinese Catholic Mission and led the church, branching into community work, including the building of the now defunct St Teresa’s High School and St Teresa’s Orphanage. During World War Two, he also opened the church’s doors to many stranded people from Malaya,

as well as women who sought help. Today, the church continues the tradition

of serving Catholic seafarers – it maintains the Stella Maris Catholic Seamen’s Mission. It is also the only Romano-Byzantine architecture in Singapore. ¤

The church, known affectionately as

the “Little Flower”, was officially blessed and opened on April 7, 1929. Hailed as the first rural Catholic church in Singapore, it was built with mainly the growing Chinese Hokkien-speaking communities in mind. It was named after Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus, who was canonized in 1925 and declared the Patroness of Foreign Missions by the Pope in 1927.

Inspired by the Romano-Byzantine design of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris, the church, with its all-white domes and towers, rose magnificently in the district of Kampong Bahru and was designed to accommodate 1,400 worshippers.

Visitors to the church will be amazed by the beautifully crafted stain glass images, installed in 1931 at the back of the sanctuary of the Parish Church, which chronicles the life of the Patron Saint, St Therese of Lisieux.

The sharp-eyed will notice a marble plaque on the right wall of the church’s front entrance dedicated to the memory of Rev Monsignor Emile Joseph Mariette, who saw to the building of the church.

The White SanctuarySt Teresa Church

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St Teresa Church

Address: 510 Kampong Bahru Road Opening Hours: Church is only open during Mass: Weekdays: 6pm, Saturday 5.30pm, Sunday 8.30am, 10.30am, 12.30pm, 6pmNearest bus stop: 61, 124, 143, 166(Alight at bus stop in front of the St Teresa Church on Kampung Bahru Road and walk)

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Tales behind the Hill Thousand Buddha Hill

Washington Hill or Telok Blangah Hill as it is currently known was

part of the Mount Faber ridge. When the extension of Henderson Road at Depot Road to Telok Blangah Road was constructed in 1970s, it sliced up the original Mount Faber ridge; one part remained as the Mount Faber; and the other section was renamed Telok Blangah Hill.

Mr Woon Wee Teng, a retired lawyer and a famous collector of Buddhist artifacts and antiquities, reminisces the memories of Telok Blangah Hill.

“Washington Hill was also known as the Thousand Buddha Hill to locals. It got its name from the three Buddhist buildings found there. They were the Thousand Buddha Temple which had countless number of small Buddha idols on its walls, a smaller temple down the road and the former Alkaff mansion which served as the World Buddhist Society headquarters. A metal plate nailed to a rostrum on one side of the temple courtyard bore testimony to its illustrious history.

Thousand Buddha Temple

There was also a Buddha statue on the slope which was subsequently demolished together with the temples when the government acquired the land. Two idols, one of which is a rarely seen unusual seven-headed dragon statue, can now be found in Nei Xue Tang, a privately owned Buddhist art museum.”

Mdm Chia Mui Huay who used to be a helper at World Buddhist Society remembers fondly the legends surrounding the temple, including the Python paying respect to the Buddha statue and the seven-headed dragon statue which refused to move out of the temple, etc.

“The temple was popular with the locals who visited it during the first and fifteen day of the lunar month and on Vesak Day. The temple was also promoted as an important tourist attraction. Busloads of tourists would arrive daily after visiting Mount Faber in the 1970s and 1980s.

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Thousand Buddha Hill

As everyone wanted to draw divinations at the temple, the temple invented an automated divination machine called Rishi Wheel of Fortune to manage the high demand. The fortune-seeker would insert a 20-cent coin into the box which caused the wheel to spin and give a number. A paper containing the divination based on this number could then be collected. This is hardly seen in Singapore now.”

Old picture of Alkaff mansion

However, all these could only remain in Mdm Chia’s memory. Except for the old Alkaff mansion, the Thousand Buddha Temple and its legends had given way to the beautiful landscaped garden. ¤

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A walk from the start to the end of this 274m bridge should take only about

five minutes but people tend to take a lot longer, because of the view it offers. At 36m above Henderson Road, Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore.

From dog-walkers to the elderly, pedestrians will enjoy the scenic greens on both sides of the bridge, a unique wave of seven undulating “ribs” that rise and fall under the deck like rolling waves – hence its name. They are not for decorations; they also serve as shelters against rain.

Overhead Wonder Henderson Waves

The yellow slats on the deck are made from balau wood, an all-weather timber found in South-east Asia. Watch out for carvings on the slats which mark the height at various points along the bridge.

At night, the bridge is a luminous stage of LED lights which makes it a marvel to gaze.

Officially opened in 2008, it was built to connect the two hills of Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill, and is part of the Southern Ridges development, a 9km chain of greenery that also includes Kent Ridge Park. The entire project costs the Urban Redevelopment Authority $25.5 million. ¤

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“You don’t have to travel to other countries when we have beautiful places like this in Singapore.”

– Madam Mila Ahmad, visiting the Southern Ridges

with her family

Henderson Waves

Address: Henderson Road Nearest bus stop: 131, 145, 176, 648 (Alight at bus stop along Henderson Road, take the staircase up to Mount Faber Park)

The wave-forms will be lit with attractive LED light from 7pm to 2am daily, giving the bridge an illuminative glow.

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The hill is an area steeped in history and is home to some of nature’s flora

and fauna. Once more known for Alkaff Mansion, a sprawling colonial white house owned by the Alkaffs, a wealthy Arab family who moved to Singapore in the mid 1800s, it was used by the Japanese army during the Japanese occupation. After the war, the building was rented by the World Buddhist Society as its headquarters before it was turned into a venue for fine dining and entertainment in 1986.

Because of its grand exterior and beautiful terraced gardens, the Alkaff Mansion was a popular location for wedding photography shoots. However, the restaurant had since closed down and the forsaken grand mansion is all that remains to remind us of its past.

Of Nature and SightTelok Blangah Hill

More recently, it is known for being one of the stopovers for the Southern Ridges, a 9km chain of greenery linking Mount Faber and Telok Blangah Hill Park to West Coast Park. The Hilltop Walk, a steps-free elevated walkway on one side of Telok Blangah Hill brings visitors through the secondary forest before connecting to Alexandra Arch.

Another main feature of Telok Blangah Hill Park is the Terrace Gardens. A popular spot for wedding couples, it consists of a series of semi-circular terraces located at the top of the park. You can enjoy a breath-taking view of the surrounding city from this point. Colourful bougainvilleas are planted on each terrace to enhance its charm and beauty.

Come in the morning or evening and join the residents from the nearby neighbourhoods for their exercises such as Taichi and jogging. Alternatively, you can sit back and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and watch the birds and butterflies in their natural surroundings. ¤

Alkaff Mansion in the 1990s

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Of Nature and SightTelok Blangah Hill

Telok Blangah Hill

Address: Telok Blangah Green off Henderson RoadNearest bus stop: 131, 145, 176, 273(Alight at bus stop along Henderson Road and proceed on foot via Telok Blangah Green)57, 175,195(Alight at Depot Road and proceed on foot via footpath behind HDB Blk 103A or 104C)

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The name Bukit Merah, or Red Hill in Malay, is inspired by the red soil in the

area. Back in the 1960s, Jalan Bukit Merah was simply a muddy rust-coloured track, before its present reincarnation as a major road in the west.

Two Malay legends surrounded the Bukit Merah name. One was about a boy who taught the local king on how to use the trunks of banana trees to build a fence and trap swordfishes plaguing the fishermen. The plan worked but seeing how intelligent the boy was, the insecure ruler was jealous, and ordered his soldiers to kill the child. The pursuit ended at the top of a hill and blood spilled over the land, bathing the soil red, and hence the name. Another version had a happier ending – an old witch saved

Painting the Town RedBukit Merah

the boy’s life by forming a fountain that spewed blood to scare off the soldiers.

The other legend, recounted in Serajah Melayu, a collection of Malay oral traditions, attributed the cause of the red soil to the blood of a holy man, who was executed after he tried to use his magic to impress the wife of a king.

Pigs rearing

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Mr Tan Bok Seng whose father was the kampong head in Bukit Merah, chooses to continue to reside in the vicinity even after his kampong made way for redevelopment. Mr Tan

recalls his childhood and the life of people living in the kampong.

“As my great grandfather owned a vermicelli factory, we would climb up the hill early in the morning to lay the vermicelli on the racks and then return in the evening to collect them when they were dried. It was tough work then.

Rearing pigs was one of the livelihoods of the Chinese living in the kampong. Every morning, the pig owners would trek to other kampongs and returned with cartloads of leftover food collected from those households to feed their pigs. Besides rearing pigs, there were also other kampong dwellers who chose to work in the nearby Hock Ann Bricks Factory and Singapore Glass Manufacture, which are no longer around.

As a predominantly Chinese kampong, there were a number of Chinese temples for worship. These temples were subsequently re-housed in the present day temple, Zhen Long Gong in Redhill when the kampongs were demolished and SIT and HDB flats built in their place.

Today, the pig farms and kampongs are gone. Bukit Merah has become a town central where culture, commerce, sports as well as the commuters’ centre come together.

Occasionally, some older generation still refer to this place as ‘Glass Factory’ and talk about the once very popular private bus company, Hock Lee. Hearing this makes me nostalgic.” ¤

Preparing food for the pigs

Glass bottle making

Bukit Merah

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Under the one roof of Zhen Long Gong at 98-T Redhill Close is a

rare harmony of four different Taoist worshippers. Four different temples – Jie Gu Dian, Long Shan Ting, Wan Xian Miao and Zhen Ren Gong – are housed in the same premises as their original locations made way for urban redevelopment in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The main deity worshipped is Da Bo Gong, an important figure for the Hokkien community.

Zhen Long Gong’s history traced back more than 100 years ago, when a group of young immigrants from Fujian, China brought their deity Bao Sheng Da Di here in 1912 to Singapore. The god, a physician born in the Song dynasty was worshipped for his superb medical and healing skills.

Then, the immigrants were believed to have only brought back the sacred robes of the deity but not his idol as they were too poor. Today, the robes still exist, placed in a wrapped package in front of the statue in the centre of the temple. ¤

Harmony of FourZhen Long Gong

“Our ancestors have brought their heritage and culture from China to come here, and it is our legacy now to carry it on.”Ng Ah Hong, who has been helping out at Zeng Long Gong for more than 30 years

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Zhen Long GongZeng Long Gong

Address: 98T Redhill CloseOpening Hours: Daily 7am – 6pm15th day of the Lunar calendar month,5am – 6pmTemple will extend their visiting hours to 10.30pm during festival ritual sessions.Nearest bus stop: 14, 147, 196, 197, 855, 961(Alight at bus stop after Bukit Merah CC and walk)

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These low-rise blocks appear diminutive among their much taller brothers surrounding them.

Affectionately known as “Seven Storey Houses”, the 21 blocks of flats built under the Singapore Improvement Trust programme – the entity before HDB was formed – were built in the 1950s after people were relocated from their attap houses in Redhill. Rent was kept at $52 a month, which was affordable only to the middle-income group.The astute will notice that No. 4 is missing from the block of flats numbered from 1 to 22. While housewives’ tales would suggest that the number was bad luck according to Chinese mythology, and hence was taken away, the block was actually demolished to make way for roadworks.

During the construction of the buildings, Henderson Hill was levelled. A market was also built next to the blocks, serving not only the residents but also labourers in the mornings on the way to work at the Jurong shipyards.It was not until 1982, when all of the 82 units of three-room flats were no longer rented out and were sold to their occupants. A $1.3 million refurbishment was undertaken by the Housing Development Board. In 1995, a major upgrading project went underway to update the interiors of the apartments, as well as the surroundings to include dramatic archways, palm-lined covered linkways and landscaped courtyards.

Short and Stout21 Blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats

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21 blocks of Singapore Improvement Trust flats

Hock Lee Bus

Today, the flats are occupied by mostly elderly, many are residents who have lived there for decades. If you are paying a visit, you might meet one of their more illustrious residents – the eight former samsui women, or female construction workers during Singapore’s foundation years, who were known for their signature red headdresses. ¤

Address: Blk 1 – 22 Redhill CloseNearest MRT Station: Redhill MRTNearest bus stop: 14, 147, 196, 197, 855, 961.(Alight at bus stop after Bukit Merah CC)63 (opp Blk 73) 132, 145, 32, 33, 64 (opp Redhill MRT)

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An Estate’s HeartbeatBukit Merah Central

Since the 1930s, Bukit Merah had slowly transformed from a hilly

kampong to a modern town. Some of the industries located in the area gave the area nicknames that continue to be used today by the older generation.

For example, some referred the area as Beehoon Pore or Vermicelli Hill as there were at least five families who manufactured vermicelli or clear, thin noodles in the area in the 1950s. The factories have since moved after the Government developed the area into a housing estate, but the name stuck till today.

Another name that stuck among the Hokkien community is Poon Saw Pore or Rubbish hill. In the early 20th century, the undeveloped tropical swamps in the area were filled with the city’s refuse. Garbage disposal factories became common, hence the moniker.

With redevelopment and renewal, the town is anything but the dumps now. Bukit Merah Central has developed into a typical town centre. Most of the essential public facilities are in place. There are bus interchange, schools, supermarket, polyclinic, hawker centres, shops and library. Regular performances are showcased at the amphitheatre. Shops also carry a variety of products that cater to the everyday needs.

Surrounding this is the presence of Spring Singapore and factories of light industries. These help to bring employment to the people of Bukit Merah and businesses to the various shops and amenities.

Fast factsThe earth at Bukit Merah was sticky red clay with a lot of sandstones and mudstones, which made it suitable for making red bricks used in construction. That gave rise to the establishment of brickworks, including Hock Ann Brickworks, which stood on the present site of Hock San Estate. Brickwork establishments began in 1930s. Amongst them were Hock Ann Brickworks, which stood on the present site of Hock San Estate, and Alexandra Brickworks on Pasir Panjang Road.

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Bukit Merah Central

Bukit Merah Central was also once the home of Housing and Development Board Headquarters, the two-towered building that lay claim as an important landmark in the district. During its heyday, many HDB staff descended upon the hawker centres which serve much good food during lunch break and brought vibrancy to the estate. The HDB has since moved from the premises. The building is now renamed Connection One and has become a hub for small and medium enterprises.

These days, due to its strategic and centralised location, Bukit Merah still remains as one of the most sought after estate for HDB flat buyers. ¤

Address: Bukit Merah CentralNearest bus stop: Bukit Merah Interchange:5, 16, 57, 123, 131, 132, 139, 153, 167, 176, 198, 272, 273, 275, 851Bus stop along Jalan Bukit Merah:14, 147, 196, 197, 855, 961(Alight at bus stop after Bukit Merah MacDonald’s)

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Map of the Trail��

Editorial Committee Advisors

Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC

Mr Lim Huan Chiang, JP, BBM, Chairman, Radin Mas CCC

Chairman Mr Kenny Lim

Co-Chairman Mr Andrew Mah

Members Ms Emily Tan, Ms Lai Tsai Yi , Ms Mabel Tan,

Ms Teo Bee Lan, Ms Tracy Tan, Mr Tan Kim Leng, Mr Benjamin Chua, Mr Lee Sze Yong, Mr Ng Chee Wee

Acknowledgement We would like to thank the following who have

contributed to the making of this book in every possible way.

Radin Mas Primary SchoolRaffles Design Institute

National Archives of SingaporeNational Heritage Board

Urban Redevelopment AuthorityMr Tan Bok Seng, BBM

Mr Mohamad Ghouse Khan SuratteeMr Woon Wee Teng

Mdm Chia Mui HuayMs Fen TongeMr Samiappan

Mr Toh Lam HuatMr Toh Kheng Guan

Mr Wan HusseinMdm Wan Fatimah

DisclaimerThough the producers/editors believe reasonable efforts have been made to ensure

the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, it may include inaccuracies or typographical errors and may be changed or updated without notice.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or

any information storage and retrieval system without prior permission from Radin Mas Citizens’ Consultative Committee.

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Radin Mas Citizens’ Consultative Committee

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Source of photographsThe Straits Times© Singapore Press Holdings Ltd.

National Archives of SingaporePermission required for reproduction