National monuments of Singapore

The National Monuments of Singapore[a] are sites, buildings and structures in Singapore that have been designated by the National Heritage Board (NHB) as possessing exceptional historic, traditional, archaeological, architectural or artistic merit. These monuments are legally protected from demolition due to their cultural and historical significance, including associations with pivotal events such as the Second World War, the independence of Singapore and the nation's early development. The Preservation of Monuments Act empowers the NHB to oversee the preservation of these landmarks and encourages research as well as public engagement with Singapore's architectural heritage.[2]

The framework for designating national monuments was established under the Preservation of Monuments Act, enacted in December 1970.[3] The act provided for the identification and legal protection of culturally significant sites, leading to the formation of the Preservation of Monuments Board (PMB) in April 1972. This body was tasked with enforcing the act amidst growing concern over the loss of heritage buildings due to rapid urban redevelopment.[4] By mid-1973, forty sites were shortlisted for preservation and public suggestions were invited to expand the list.[5] The initial batch of eight designated landmarks included the Thong Chai Medical Institution, Armenian Church, St Andrew's Cathedral, Telok Ayer Market, Thian Hock Keng Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, Fatimah Mosque and the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.[6] In 2021, amendments were proposed to expand the act's definition to include open spaces, inland waters and any land area associated with human activity, both past and present.[7]

The NHB, a statutory board under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth within the Government of Singapore, is responsible for gazetting and maintaining national monuments. As of now, 82 structures have been gazetted of which 75 are formally recognised as national monuments. These include religious sites, civic buildings, marketplaces and other culturally significant landmarks across the island. The most recent addition to the list is the Padang, officially gazetted on National Day in 2022.[8] A comprehensive and regularly updated list of these monuments is accessible via the NHB's heritage portal.[9]

List of national monuments

#[10][b] Building name[10] Date completed Image Current usage Address[c] Details Coordinates[d] Date gazetted[10] Ref(s)
73
 Anderson Bridge 1910 Bridge Singapore River Opened in 1910, the steel truss girder bridge was constructed to ease traffic on the Cavenagh Bridge. It is named after Sir John Anderson, the Governor of the Straits Settlement from 1904 to 1911. 1°17′14″N 103°51′11″E / 1.2871833°N 103.8529398°E / 1.2871833; 103.8529398 15 October 2019 [11]
2
 Armenian Church 1836 Church Hill Street 006060 Hill Street The church was opened on Easter Sunday in 1836 to serve the Armenian community during colonial Singapore. Designed by George D. Coleman, it resembles the Mother Church of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Etchmiadzin, Armenia. With its circular design, which does not appear in any other church in Singapore, the altarpiece is a painting of the Last Supper. The Armenian Church features Doric columns and triangular pediments on each side of the building. It is Singapore's oldest church. 1°17′35″N 103°50′58″E / 1.2930996°N 103.8494006°E / 1.2930996; 103.8494006 28 June 1973 [12]
61
 Bowyer Block, Singapore General Hospital 29 March 1926 Singapore General Hospital Museum Third Hospital Avenue 0011 11 Third Hospital Avenue The Bowyer Block was opened in 1926 as part of the new Singapore General Hospital (SGH) for the general public as the Upper Block. It was renamed to the Bowyer Block in post-World War II (WWII) in memory of Dr John H. Bowyer, who died during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. Much of SGH was redeveloped in the 1980s except for the Bowyer Block, making it the only remaining part of the original SGH. The neoclassical building currently houses the Singapore General Hospital Museum. 1°16′50″N 103°50′11″E / 1.2805776°N 103.8362735°E / 1.2805776; 103.8362735 11 November 2009 [13]
23
 Caldwell House 1840–1841 Part of the CHIJMES complex Victoria Street 003030 Victoria Street The Caldwell House was a bungalow for the French sisters of Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel. Currently, the neoclassical building is part of CHIJMES, a shopping centre. It is the oldest building in the CHIJMES compound 1°17′43″N 103°51′08″E / 1.2954026°N 103.8523427°E / 1.2954026; 103.8523427 26 October 1990 [14]
48
 Cathay Building 3 October 1939 Commercial Handy Road 00022 Handy Road Opened in 1939, the art deco cinema was Singapore's first skyscraper and air-conditioned cinema. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, it became an office for theJapanese Military Propaganda Department or sendehan, as well as the Japanese Broadcasting Department and Military Information Bureau. Most of the cinema has been replaced by a glass building, with the façade of the original building remaining. 1°17′57″N 103°50′53″E / 1.2992514°N 103.8479355°E / 1.2992514; 103.8479355 10 February 2003 [15][16]
8
 Cathedral of the Good Shepherd 1843–1847 Church 4 Queen Street One of Singapore's oldest cathedrals and the cathedral church for the Archbishop of Singapore. 1°17′46″N 103°51′05″E / 1.2960523°N 103.8512508°E / 1.2960523; 103.8512508 28 June 1973 [17]
73
 Cavenagh Bridge 1869 Bridge Singapore River Connecting Raffles Place to the government quarter, it is Singapore's oldest suspension bridge and the last major work of Indian convicts. Prior to the bridge, people had to take a ferry to cross the Singapore River, with a temporary toll bridge replacing the ferry at some point. It is named after Sir William O. Cavenagh, the Governor of the Straits Settlement from 1859 to 1867. 1°17′12″N 103°51′09″E / 1.2865716°N 103.8523905°E / 1.2865716; 103.8523905 15 October 2019 [11]
63
 The Cenotaph 1922 War memorial Connaught Dr A war memorial that is dedicated to the military personnel who died in World War I (WWI) and WWII. Initially opened in 1922 to honour those from the Colony of Singapore who came to fight in Europe during WWI, the reverse side of the monument was dedicated to those who died defending Singapore and in WW2. It is based off The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London. 1°17′25″N 103°51′14″E / 1.2902332°N 103.8537688°E / 1.2902332; 103.8537688 28 December 2010 [18][19]
41
 Central Fire Station 1908 Fire station Hill Street 006262 Hill Street Completed in 1909, it is Singapore's oldest surviving fire station. It was built under the recommendation of Montague W. Pett, then-Superintendent of the Singapore Fire Brigade, where he transformed the force from being poorly trained to a modern fire brigade. Firefighters from the fire station responded to various post-WWII and post-independence emergencies such as the Bukit Ho Swee fire and Collapse of Hotel New World. The 'blood-and-bandage'[e] building is still operational. 1°17′31″N 103°50′57″E / 1.2920452°N 103.8491541°E / 1.2920452; 103.8491541 18 December 1998 [20]
72
 Changi Prison, Old Entrance Gate, Turret and Wall 1936 Prison Upper Changi Road North Upper Changi Road North Changi Prison was completed in 1936 and started operations in 1937 as a maximum security prison in response to the then-ongoing prison overcrowding problem. During the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, it was used as a prisoner-of-war camp where the Double Tenth incident took place. In 1959, after several members of the People's Action Party (PAP) were released from Changi Prison after being arrested and detained in the prison in 1956 for being involved in labour strikes. Much of the original building was replaced by a new building except for the entrance gate, two corner turrets, and a 180 metres (200 yd) long wall. 1°21′18″N 103°58′21″E / 1.3550915°N 103.9724259°E / 1.3550915; 103.9724259 15 February 2016 [21]
38
 Chesed-El Synagogue 1905 Synagogue Oxley Road 00022 Oxley Rise The synagogue was built by Sir Manasseh Meyer in 1905 as the Maghain Aboth Synagogue was insufficient for the expanding Jewish population. After WWII, the Maghain Aboth Synagogue was primarily used due to the shrinking Jewish population, though it was decided that it would be closed on Mondays so that the Chesed-El Synagogue can still be used. It is currently one of two synagogues in Singapore, the other being the Maghain Aboth Synagogue. 1°17′50″N 103°50′34″E / 1.297274°N 103.8426685°E / 1.297274; 103.8426685 18 December 1998 [22]
43
 Chinese High School Clock Tower Building 1925 Part of Hwa Chong Institution Bukit Timah Road 0673673 Bukit Timah Road Built between 1923 and 1925, the neoclassical clock tower was opened as part of The Chinese High School (present day Hwa Chong Institution)'s Bukit Timah campus, the first secondary and high school specifically for the Chinese community in Singapore. During WWII, it was by the Japanese as a surveillance tower. 1°19′35″N 103°48′12″E / 1.3263581°N 103.8032904°E / 1.3263581; 103.8032904 19 March 1999 [23]
66
 Chung Cheng High School (Main) Administration Building and Entrance Arch 1965 School Goodman Road 003050 Goodman Road Completed in 1968, the Administration Building of the Chung Cheng High School's Goodman Road Campus was constructed to provide modern educational facilities for students. Chung Cheng High School was one of the first schools accessible to Chinese youths. The building combines both traditional Chinese and modern architectural elements such as its double-tier Chinese roof. 1°18′17″N 103°53′27″E / 1.3048356°N 103.8907128°E / 1.3048356; 103.8907128 10 July 2014 [24]
52
 Church of Our Lady of Lourdes 1888 Church Ophir Road 005050 Ophir Road Opened in 1888, the neo-gothic church was constructed to cater to the then-expanding Tamil Catholic community. It is one of Singapore's oldest churches and still used to this day by different ethnicities. 1°18′11″N 103°51′22″E / 1.3029945°N 103.8561809°E / 1.3029945; 103.8561809 14 January 2005 [25]
49
 Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul 1869–1870 Church Queen Street 0225A225A Queen Street Initially constructed to serve the growing Chinese and Tamil Catholic communities, it was designated as a church exclusively for the Chinese due to Church of Our Lady of Lourdes's nickname as "The Tamil Church". It is one of the oldest Catholic churches in Singapore. 1°17′52″N 103°51′05″E / 1.29788°N 103.8512744°E / 1.29788; 103.8512744 10 February 2003 [26]
57
 Church of St Teresa 7 April 1929 Church Bukit Purmei 00022 Bukit Purmei Opened in 1929 to cater to Hokkien Catholics, it is the only Catholic building to be built have Romano-Byzantine architecture. The Church continues to be used by different ethnicities and houses the Singapore branch of the Apostle of the Sea, an international Catholic group for seafarers. 1°16′23″N 103°49′40″E / 1.2729857°N 103.8277913°E / 1.2729857; 103.8277913 11 November 2009 [27]
53
 Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1901 Church Upper Serangoon Road 12591259 Upper Serangoon Road Built between 1898 and 1901, it was constructed to replace the Church of Saint Mary as the Teochew Catholic community in Hougang was expanding then. The Neo-Gothic church is one of the oldest churches in the suburbs of Singapore. 1°22′25″N 103°53′54″E / 1.3735529°N 103.8982627°E / 1.3735529; 103.8982627 14 January 2005 [28]
65
 Civilian War Memorial 15 February 1967 War memorial War Memorial Park, Singapore Opened in 1967 by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the Civilian War Memorial is dedicated to those who died during the Japanese occupation of Singapore in WWII. It was built after mass graves of Sook Ching victims were discovered in the 1950s and 1960s. It is known as the "Four Chopsticks" by locals due to its four columns which represent the four main ethnic groups of Singapore who died under Japanese occupation, being Chinese, Malays, Indians, and Eurasians. 1°17′34″N 103°51′17″E / 1.2928954°N 103.854702°E / 1.2928954; 103.854702 15 August 2013 [29]
25
 Former City Hall 1926–1929 Part ofNational Gallery Singapore Saint Andrew's Road 00033 Saint Andrew's Road Completed in 1929, it was initially called the Municipal Building with the Municipal Council based there. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, it became the headquarters for the Japanese Military. It was also where Supreme Commander of the South East Asia Command Louis Mountbatten accepted the surrender of General Seishiro Itagaki in 1945. In 1951, it was renamed to City Hall when Singapore was granted city status. 8 years later in 1959, it hosted Lee Kuan Yew's swearing as Singapore's first Prime Minister and formal declaration of Singapore's self-governing as well as Yusof bin Ishak becoming the Yang di-Pertuan Negara (head of state in Malay) and the introduction of Singapore's national anthem "Majulah Singapura", state crest, and state flag. Lee also read the Proclamation of Malaysia on the steps of City Hall in 1963. After Singapore's Independence, it housed various government agencies. In 2015, the neoclassical-modernist building became part of the National Gallery Singapore along with the Former Supreme Court. 1°17′27″N 103°51′06″E / 1.2907516°N 103.8517689°E / 1.2907516; 103.8517689 14 February 1992 [30]
47
 College of Medicine Building 1926 Occupied by the Ministry of Health (MOH), Singapore Medical Council, and College of Family Physicians College Road 001616 College Road The College of Medicine Building opened as The Straits and Federated Malay States Government Medical School in 1905, where locals could learn Western medicine without having to leave Singapore. In 1913 it was renamed to King Edward VII Medical School after receiving a donation from the King Edward VII Memorial Fund the year prior, then subsequently renaming itself to be King Edward VII College of Medicine in 1921. In 1926, a new building for the school was opened, where it housed the Council Chamber and education facilities. The school was merged with Raffles College to create the University of Malaya and subsequently became the Faculty of Medicine. Currently, the Ministry of Health (MOH) Singapore Medical Council, and College of Family Physicians occupy the neoclassical building. 1°17′27″N 103°51′06″E / 1.2907516°N 103.8517689°E / 1.2907516; 103.8517689 2 December 2002 [31]
23
 Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel 1904 Part of the CHIJMES complex Victoria Street 003030 Victoria Street The Anglo-French Gothic chapel opened in 1903 and was subsequently consecrated in 1904, where it became the "crowning glory of the convent". The chapel features a five-storey spire and a series of stained-glass windows made by Jules Dobbelaere, a "famed" and "highly-skilled" European craftsman. Particularly, the chapel's apse features a series of windows showcasing Jesus's life, with its nave featuring the Twelve Apostles. In 1983 the convent moved to a new compound in Toa Payoh and the chapel was subsequently deconsecrated. It is currently part of CHIJMES, a shopping centre. 1°17′43″N 103°51′08″E / 1.2954026°N 103.8523427°E / 1.2954026; 103.8523427 26 October 1990 [14]
73
 Elgin Bridge 1929 Bridge Singapore River The first Elgin Bridge was an iron bridge from Calcutta, which opened in 1862 in place of several previous bridges.[f] In 1928 the bridge was reconstructed to facilitate more traffic and to allow tongkangs (river boats) to pass through, which was done by raising the bridge 4 feet (1.2 m) higher. Spanning 140 feet (43 m) across the Singapore River, it has three steel bowstring arches and three concrete caissons on each side of the river. It also features medallions of a palm tree and lion designed by Italian sculptor Rudolfo Nolli. Elgin Bridge is named after James B. Elgin, the Governor-General of India from 1862 to 1863. 1°17′20″N 103°50′58″E / 1.2890256°N 103.8493811°E / 1.2890256; 103.8493811 15 October 2019 [11]
29
 Former Empress Place Building (now Asian Civilisation Museum) 1864–1920 Asian Civilisations Museum Empress Place 00011 Empress Place The Empress Place Building started construction in 1864 even though it was approved in 1855. When it was completed in 1867, various government departments moved from Maxwell's House to this building, where it came to be known as the "Government Offices". It would later come to be known as the "Empress Place Building", which came from the nearby pedestrian space Empress Place and in turned named after the late Queen Victoria. It was continued to be used as a government building until the 1980s, where it was turned into a history and culture museum. Since 2003, it has been used for the Asian Civilisation Museum. The building features neoclassical details such as rusticated floors, arcaded verandahs, and Roman Doric façades and columns. 1°17′15″N 103°51′05″E / 1.287441°N 103.8513752°E / 1.287441; 103.8513752 14 February 1992 [32]
45
 Former Admiralty House 1940 School Old Nelson Road 0345345 Old Nelson Road Completed in 1940 by His Majesty Navy Works Department, it used to house the Commodore Superintendent of Sembawang Naval Base. After WWII, it was renamed several times – Nelson House after Vice-Admiral Horatio Lord Nelson where it became the residence of the Flag Officer in the Malayan area, Admiralty House in 1958 for the Commander-in-Chief of the Far East Station, and ANZUK House in 1971 when the Australian, New Zealand, and United Kingdom (ANZUK) force assumed responsibility for Singapore's defence. When Sembawang Shipyard took over the house after ANZUK left in 1975, it was used as a recreation club until 2006. It was renamed to the Former Admiralty House when it became a National Monument in 2002. The design of the two-storey building, often attributed to Sir Edwin L. Lutyens, has elements of the Arts and Crafts movement such as its exposed brick façade on the upper level, the asymmetry of the building, and its high-hipped roof with overhanging eaves. It is planned to be used for the Canberra Library as part of the Bukit Canberra integrated development. 1°26′51″N 103°49′29″E / 1.4475326°N 103.824632°E / 1.4475326; 103.824632 2 December 2002 [33]
32
 Former Attorney-General's Chambers (now Parliament House Block C) 1906 Parliament House Block C 1 Parliament Place Based on current archival research, it is not known when the original building was constructed. The first structure recorded on this national monument's site was an annexe of Maxwell's House, which opened in 1839. A second building emerged in the 1880s, either from the annexe being demolished or incorporated into a two-storey structure. Housing the Government Printing Office, the building was renovated in 1906, with its façade from the renovation remaining to this day. The Public Works Department occupied the building from the late 1960s until 1976, when the building was renovated house the chambers of the Attorney-Generals. Prior to the renovation, the previous Attorney-General's Chamber was at the Former Empress Palace Building. The building was restored in 1991 where it became part of the Parliament House complex. In order to match the architecture of the building with surrounding buildings, a rusticated base was added. The neoclassical-styled building has curved pediments on its corner extensions adorned with stucco cartouches and festoons. Despite the most visible façade of the building is the one facing High Street, it is actually the building's side, with the building's front façade blocked by foliage and the Former Parliament House. 1°17′20″N 103°51′02″E / 1.28897°N 103.8505178°E / 1.28897; 103.8505178 14 February 1992 [34]
59
 Former Command House 1937–1938 University Kheam Hock Road 001717 Kheam Hock Road Built c. 1937 to 1938 as the official residence of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Malaya, it was originally known as the Flagstaff House. It was likely built as part of the Britsh's defensive plans for Singapore in case of a Japanese invasion. Before Lieutenant-General Sir William G. S. Dobbie, the GOC at the time, moved to the house from the Old Flagstaff House at Mount Rosie in October 1938, it was used as the wedding reception for William Doobie's son Lieutenant Dobbie, and Florence Mary Dickey. When Lieutenant-General Arthur E. Percival assumed GOC in 1941, Air Vice-Marshall Conway W. H. Pulford of the Royal Air Force (RAF) also moved into the house. Due to the threat of war looming closer, Sime Road Camp was established at the area near Flagstaff House, with Percival staying at the Combined Operations Headquarters in the camp instead of returning to Flagstaff House to sleep due to the amount of work needed to be done before the Fall of Singapore. Sime Road Camp was abandoned by the British on 11 February 1942, with the Flagstaff house used as a quarter for Japanese soldiers during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore. Flagstaff House was returned to the British after WWII, with the British transferring ownership to the Singapore Government after its military withdrew from Singapore in the 1970s. It was used as Speaker of Parliament Yeoh Ghim Seng's official residence until his retirement in 1989, where his successor chose to live in his own house and the Urban Development and Management Company subsequently renting the building. It later became known as the Command House, possibly a reference to being the former residence of the GOC. President Ong Teng Cheong stayed at the Command House between 1996 and 1998 when The Istana was under renovation. Ong also played a role in restoring the house, which included adding a reception hall for state functions. In 2007, It is not known who designed the Arts and Crafts movement-inspired building, with some speculating Frank W. Brewer to be the architect. It has several features such as the use of exposed material on its façade and its use of the butterfly plan. It is currently leased by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA). 1°19′32″N 103°49′09″E / 1.3255622°N 103.8190784°E / 1.3255622; 103.8190784 11 November 2009 [35][36]
55
 Former Ford Factory 1941 Museum Upper Bukit Timah Road 0315315 Upper Bukit Timah Road Opened in 1941, it was built for the Ford Motor Company of Malaya, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company of Canada. Prior to the factor's opening, the Malayan subsidiary was established in 1926 to supervise the distribution and supply of Ford cars in Malaya, Dutch East Indies, Thailand, and Borneo. It had several initial plants before moving to the factory and starting operations there in October 1941. Bukit Timah was chosen as the new plant's location since it was near Bukit Timah Road and a railway, allowing its products to be exported easily with the former connecting the centre of Singapore to its northern side. Like other Fort Motor Company of Canada plants, it produced military vehicles starting in 1940 to support the British war effort during WWII. During the Malayan Campaign, the RAF used the plant to manufacture aircraft, though they most never saw combat as they were flown out of Singapore in January 1941 before the British's surrender, with General Tomoyuki Yamashita seizing the plant and converting it into the Japanese Military's headquarters. On 15 February 1942, General Officer Commanding of Malaya Arthur E. Percival meet with General Yamashita at the Ford Plant to discuss the British's surrender of Singapore to the Japanese, where General Percival signed the surrender document in the plant's boardroom. During Japanese Occupation, Nissan used the building to manufacture motor trucks and other military vehicles. After WWII, the British used the plant to repair engines and carry out precision tasks until 1947, when Ford Factory was transferred to Fort Motor Company of Malaya and continued manufacturing automobiles until it moved out in 1980. In 2005, Ford Factory was acquired by the National Archives of Singapore (NAS) and became a museum. Designed by Emile Brizay, who also designed the Church of St Teresa, it features Art Deco elements such as bevelled doorways and a flagpole rising from the building. The entrance façade features three large green-glazed windows and a visual contrast between roughcast surfaces and cleft panels of smooth plasterwork. The Former Ford Factory was equipped with most modern technology and was one of Singapore's industrial showpiece at its completion. 1°21′10″N 103°46′08″E / 1.3528265°N 103.7688399°E / 1.3528265; 103.7688399 15 February 2006 [37]
56
 Raffles College[g] c. 1920s National University of Singapore (NUS) Bukit Timah Campus Waterloo Street 0024469E Bukit Timah Road Opened in 1928, it was the first college for arts and sciences. Prior to its opening, locals had to travel overseas to receive tertiary education. In preparation for the centenary of Raffles' landing in Singapore, a committee led by Sir George Maxwell was instructed to build a memorial, with the committee unanimously choosing a college to commemorate Raffles' contributions to education and research, which eventually turned into a proper university. Various philanthropists such as Sir Manasseh Meyer, Eu Tong Sen, Oei Tiong Ham, and Tan Soo Guan, financed the university as well as pledges from the Governments of the Straits Settlement and Federated and Unfederated Malay States. Due to concerns and unforeseen circumstances, the building was only completed in 1928 and accepted 43 students as its first batch, ten years after it was initially planned. Raffles College was only formally declared open on 22 July 1929 by Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Hugh Clifford. In 1941 during WWII, it was used as a convalescent hospital and later an asylum for female medical personnel from Malaya, with survivors from the sinking of HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales as the hospital's first patients. During the Japanese occupation of Singapore, Raffles College was used as the Japanese Army's Singapore headquarters. After Raffles College reopened in October 1946, it became part of the University of Malaya via a merger with King Edward VII College of Medicine. This increased enrolment to a point where Raffles College can no longer support the student population, resulting in the two schools to split, with the University of Singapore (later National University of Singapore) established in the Former Raffles College building. It was home to the National Institute of Education and the Singapore Management University before it was acquired by the NUS Faculty of Law, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and other institutes. As of date, the Raffles College Building is used as NUS's Bukit Timah Campus. Designed by Cyril A. Farey and Graham R. Dawbarn who were the winners of a British Empire-wide architectural competition for the college, the building features rows of wide arches fringing its arcades on the ground floor, which creates a "sense of unity". The building also has two quadrangles surrounded by blocks. Particularly, the Manasseh Meyer building has cupolas on both ends of the building with flattened domes and a "python-like" tower on the roof's centre. There are also other buildings established after the college opened. 1°19′09″N 103°49′01″E / 1.3190357°N 103.8169467°E / 1.3190357; 103.8169467 11 November 2009 [39]
64
 Tanjong Pagar railway station 1932 Planned to be integrated with Cantonment MRT station Keppel Road 003030 Keppel Road Opened on 2 May 1932, it was built in response to the growth of passengers and goods transported by rail with the opening of the Johor–Singapore Causeway. The British chose a site near the docks to build the Tanjong Pagar railway station as it allowed goods from the Malayan Hinterland to be quickly transported for Singapore's growing international maritime trade. Construction started in 1929 and was completed in 1931, where it was the southernmost terminal for the Federated Malay States Railways (today's Keretapi Tanah Melayu or KTM) until 30 June 2011, with the Malaysian Government returning the station, which previously belonged to them under the Railway Ordinance of 1918, to Singapore. Designed by Swan & Maclaren, the Art Deco building was inspired by existing rail stations in England. The station features four large sculptures on its front façade by Angiolo Vannetti, which represents the Malayan economy's four main sectors, being agriculture, commerce, transport, and industry. Its roof features circular eaves tiles (wa dang), triangular drip tiles (di shui), and Buddhist swastikas. The inside of the railway station features ceramic tile murals depicting Malayan industries such as rubber tapping, tin mining, rice cultivation, and transport. As of date, it is undergoing works to be integrated with Cantonment MRT station. 1°16′22″N 103°50′17″E / 1.2727939°N 103.8379301°E / 1.2727939; 103.8379301 9 April 2011 [40][41]
74
 Fort Siloso [h] 1878 Wartime museum Siloso Road Situated on the western tip of Pulau Blakang Mati (present-day Sentosa island), it was built on Mount Siloso by the British in 1878 along with Fort Connaught and Fort Serapong to protect the New Harbour (present-day Keppel Harbour). The fort initially had three 7-inch rifled muzzle-loading guns and two 64-pounder rifled muzzle-loading guns before being replaced by quick-firing and breech-loading guns with armour-piercing shells in the 1890s as they were inadequate against ironclad warships. Fort Siloso was continuously upgraded such as one between the 1930s and early 1940s in the advent of WWII. During the Battle of Singapore, it was used to fight Japanese soldiers and engaged in several conflicts such as defending West Coast Road and the Jurong River from the Japanese as well as providing cover fire for the Malay Regiment of the 1st Battalion to withstand the Japanese 18th Division. After Singapore fell, its guns were destroyed by the British and it was used as a Japanese POW camp for the Australians and British, later being used as a POW camp for the Japanese after WWII. The fort's batteries continued to be in use until 1957 when fixed coastal artillery detachments were phased out by the British. From there, Gurkhas occupied Fort Siloso such as during the Konfrontasi where they were ordered to prevent Indonesian saboteurs from entering Singapore. Fort Siloso was handed over to the Singapore Armed Forces when the British withdrew from Singapore in 1967 until 1974, when it was turned into a military museum. Fort Siloso, designed by Colonial Engineer Henry McCallum, has an open artillery battery design, one of the first forts in the world to use it. This allowed the guns to cover more range of fire and made it difficult for the enemy to determine the layout of the fort. As part of this new concept, Fort Siloso contains an extensive network of tunnels used to provide casemates and magazines for the guns. 1°15′31″N 103°48′31″E / 1.2585159°N 103.808634°E / 1.2585159; 103.808634 15 February 2022 [42]
71
 Fullerton Building, currently The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (1867) 1928 The Fullerton Hotel Fullerton Square 00011 Fullerton Square Completed in 1928, it was named after the former Fort Fullerton as it was situated on its site, with the fort in turn named after Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir Robert Fullerton. 7 December 2015
22
 Goodwood Park Hotel (Tower Block) 1900 Hotel Scotts Road 002222 Scotts Road 23 March 1989
39
 Hill Street Police Station, Old 1934 Government Hill Street 0140140 Hill Street 18 December 1998
16
 Hong San See 1908–1913 Temple Mohamed Sultan Road 003131 Mohamed Sultan Road 10 November 1978
11
 House of Tan Yeok Nee 1885 Under restoration Clemenceau Avenue 0207207 Clemenceau Avenue 19 November 1974
24
 The Istana 1867–1869 Government Orchard RoadOrchard Road 14 February 1992
70
 Istana Kampong Glam, currently Malay Heritage Centre 1839–1843 Museum Sultan Gate85 Sultan Gate 6 August 2015
69
 Jurong Town Hall 1971–1974 Commercial Jurong Town Hall Road9 Jurong Town Hall Road 2 June 2015
58
 Keng Teck Whay 1847–1875 Temple Telok Ayer Street 0150150 Telok Ayer Street 11 November 2009
63
 Lim Bo Seng Memorial 1954 Wartime memorial Connaught Dr Connaught Dr 28 December 2010
50
 MacDonald House 1949 Commercial Orchard Road 0040A40A Orchard Road 10 February 2003
35
 Maghain Aboth Synagogue 1878 Synagogue Waterloo Street 002424 Waterloo Street 27 February 1998
18
 Masjid Abdul Gaffoor 1907 Mosque Dunlop Street 004141 Dunlop Street 5 July 1979
10
 Masjid Al-Abrar 1829 Mosque Telok Ayer Street 0192192 Telok Ayer Street 19 November 1974
68
 Masjid Alkaff Upper Serangoon 1932 Mosque Pheng Geck Avenue 6666 Pheng Geck Avenue 18 December 2014
7
 Masjid Hajjah Fatimah 1846 Mosque Beach Road 40014001 Beach Road 28 June 1973
13
 Masjid Jamae 1830 Mosque South Bridge Road 0218218 South Bridge Road 19 November 1974
14
 Masjid Sultan 1928 Mosque Muscat Street 00033 Muscat Street 8 March 1975
36
 Ministry of Labour Building, Old, currently the Subordinate Courts Family and Juvenile Division 1928 Government Havelock Square 00033 Havelock Square 27 February 1998
9
 Nagore Durgha 1893 Shrine Telok Ayer Street 0140140 Telok Ayer Street 19 November 1974
42
 Nanyang University Arch, Nanyang University Memorial and Nanyang University Library and Administration Building, currently the Chinese Heritage Centre 1954–1956 Arch, Memorial, Museum Yunnan CrescentYunnan Crescent, 42 Nanyang Avenue and 22 Nanyang Drive 18 December 1998
30
 National Museum of Singapore 1887 Museum Stamford Road 009393 Stamford Road 14 February 1992
27
 Parliament House and Annex Building, Old, currently The Arts House at the Old Parliament 1827 Arts Empress Place 001010 Empress Place 14 February 1992, and 3 July 1992
37
 Old Tao Nan School, currently the Peranakan Museum 1906 Museum Armenian Street 003939 Armenian Street 27 February 1998
1
 Old Thong Chai Medical Institution 1892 Commercial Eu Tong Sen Street 005050 Eu Tong Sen Street 28 June 1973
75
 Padang c. 1820s Multi-Purpose Venue Connaught Dr 9 August 2022
44
 Prinsep Street Presbyterian Church 1931 Church Princep Street 007777 Prinsep Street 12 January 2002
56
 Raffles College, Former, currently the Bukit Timah campus of National University of Singapore 22 July 1929 University Bukit Timah Road 0469469 Bukit Timah Road 11 November 2009
20
 Raffles Hotel 1887 Hotel Beach Road 00011 Beach Road 4 March 1987, and 3 June 1995
3
 Saint Andrew's Cathedral 1856–1861 Church Saint Andrew's Road 001111 Saint Andrew's Road 28 June 1973
15
 Saint George's Church 1910–1913 Church Minden Road 001010 Minden Road 10 November 1978
60
 Saint James Power Station 1926 Office Sentosa Gateway 00033 Sentosa Gateway 11 November 2009
51
 Saint Joseph's Church 1906–1912 Church Victoria Street 0143143 Victoria Street 14 January 2005
31
 Saint Joseph's Institution, Former, now the Singapore Art Museum 1867 Museum Bras Basah Road 007171 Bras Basah Road 14 February 1992
62
 Singapore Conference Hall October 1965 Multi-Purpose Venue Shenton Way 0007 7 Shenton Way 28 December 2010
19
 Siong Lim Temple 1902 Temple Jalan Toa Payoh 0184184 Jalan Toa Payoh 14 October 1980
6
 Sri Mariamman Temple 1827 Temple South Bridge Road 0244244 South Bridge Road 28 June 1973
17
 Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple 1855 Temple Serangoon Road 0397397 Serangoon Road 10 November 1978
24
 Sri Temasek 1867–1869 Government Orchard RoadOrchard Road 14 February 1992
67
 Sri Thendayuthapani Temple 1859 Temple Tank Road 003015 Tank Road 20 October 2014
33
 Sun Yat Sen Villa, currently the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall 1880 Museum Tai Gin Road 001212 Tai Gin Road 28 October 1994
28
 Supreme Court, Old, currently the National Gallery Singapore 1937–1939 Government Saint Andrew's Road 00011 Saint Andrew's Road 14 February 1992
63
 Tan Kim Seng Fountain 1882 Wartime memorial Connaught Dr Connaught Dr 28 December 2010
12
 Tan Si Chong Su 1876–1878 Temple Magazine Road 001515 Magazine Road 19 November 1974
46
 Tan Teck Guan Building 1911 Government College Road 001616 College Road 2 December 2002
21
 Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church 1924 Church Telok Ayer Street 0235235 Telok Ayer Street 23 March 1989
4
 Telok Ayer Market, Former, currently Lau Pa Sat 1894 Food centre Raffles Quay 001818 Raffles Quay 28 June 1973
5
 Thian Hock Keng 1839–1842 Temple Telok Ayer Street 0158158 Telok Ayer Street 28 June 1973
54
 Tou Mu Kung Temple 1881 Temple Upper Serangoon Road 0779A779A Upper Serangoon Road 14 January 2005
26
 Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall 1862 Arts Empress Place 00099 Empress Place 14 February 1992
40
 Ying Fo Fui Kun 1881–1882 Clan Telok Ayer Street 009898 Telok Ayer Street 18 December 1998
34
 Yueh Hai Ching Temple 1895 Temple Philip Street 0030B30B Philip Street 28 June 1996

Notes

  1. ^ Malay: Monumen Negara Singapura, Chinese: 新加坡国家古迹; pinyin: Xīnjiāpō Guójiā Gǔjì, Tamil: சிங்கப்பூர் தேசிய நினைவுச் சின்னங்கள், romanized: Ciṅkappūr Tēciya Niṉaivuc Ciṉṉaṅkaḷ[1]
  2. ^ The following monuments were collectively gazetted as one entry: Caldwell House and Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel for #23, The Istana and Sri Temasek for #24, The Cenotaph, Lim Bo Seng Memorial, and Tan Kim Seng Fountain as the "Esplanade Park Memorials" for #63, and Anderson, Cavenagh, and Elgin Bridges as the "Singapore River Bridges" for #73
  3. ^ Taken from each monument's entry on ROOTS
  4. ^ Taken from OneMap, an interactive map published by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA)
  5. ^ An architectural style popularised in the Edwardian Era featuring red bricks as the 'blood' and plaster layovers as the 'bandage'
  6. ^ These bridges include a timber bridge during the 1820s, a temporary wooden drawbridge called the Presentment Bridge (also known as the Jackson Bridge), and the Thomson Bridge, which replaced the Presentment Bridge in 1844. The Thomson Bridge was subsequently demolished in 1862 for the first Elgin Bridge.
  7. ^ Six of its blocks were collectively gazetted as a national monument, although still counted as one building: Oei Tiong Ham Building, Manasseh Meyer Building, Eu Tong Sen Building, Federal Building, C. J. Koh Law Library, and Li Ka Shing Building.[38]
  8. ^ 11 structures within the fort were also collectively gazetted as part of Fort Siloso: 19th century casemates, four gun emplacements, three tunnel complexes, the Battery Command Post, Fire Director Tower, and the former Sergeants’ Mess and Officers’ Mess

References

  1. ^ "Government Terms Translated". gov.sg. 7 July 2025. From English to Malay. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Preservation of Monuments Act 2009". sso.agc.gov.sg. Singapore Statues Online. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Preservation of Monuments Act". sso.agc.gov.sg. Singapore Statutes Online. 1970. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  4. ^ "Board formed to preserve monuments". The Straits Times. 22 April 1972. p. 11. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Public asked to name old monuments". New Nation. 7 June 1973. p. 3.
  6. ^ "Govt to keep eight landmarks". The Straits Times. 8 July 1973. p. 5.
  7. ^ "Proposed change to law expands definition of S'pore monuments, better protects such sites".
  8. ^ Ng Keng Gene (8 August 2022). "Padang to be gazetted as national monument on National Day". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022.
  9. ^ "National Monuments". roots.gov.sg. National Heritage Board. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "THE PADANG TO BE OFFICIALLY GAZETTED AS SINGAPORE'S 75TH NATIONAL MONUMENT ON 9 AUGUST 2022 – Annex C". National Heritage Board (NHB). 8 August 2022. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025.
  11. ^ a b c "Singapore River Bridges: Cavenagh Bridge, Anderson Bridge and Elgin Bridge". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Armenian Apostolic Church of Saint Gregory the Illuminator". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  13. ^ "Bowyer Block". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  14. ^ a b "Former Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus Chapel and Caldwell House". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  15. ^ "Former Cathay Building (now The Cathay)". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  16. ^ "Cathay Building". ROOTS. 27 June 2025. Archived from the original on 27 June 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  17. ^ "Cathedral of the Good Shepherd". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Esplanade Park Memorials". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  19. ^ "Monument Focus: The Cenotaph". ROOTS. 28 June 2025. Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  20. ^ "Central Fire Station". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  21. ^ "Changi Prison Gate Wall and Turrets". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  22. ^ "Chesed-El Synagogue". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  23. ^ "Chinese High School Clock Tower Building". ROOTS. 21 June 2025. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
  24. ^ "Chung Cheng High School (Main) Administration Building and Entrance Arch". ROOTS. 22 June 2025. Archived from the original on 22 June 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  25. ^ "Church of Our Lady of Lourdes". ROOTS. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  26. ^ "Church of Saints Peter and Paul". ROOTS. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  27. ^ "Church of St Teresa". ROOTS. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  28. ^ "Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary". ROOTS. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  29. ^ "Civilian War Memorial". ROOTS. 23 June 2025. Archived from the original on 23 June 2025. Retrieved 23 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Former City Hall". ROOTS. 24 June 2025. Archived from the original on 24 June 2025. Retrieved 24 June 2025.
  31. ^ "College of Medicine Building". ROOTS. 25 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
  32. ^ "Former Empress Place Building (now Asian Civilisations Museum)". ROOTS. 26 June 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
  33. ^ "Former Admiralty House". ROOTS. 4 July 2025. Archived from the original on 28 June 2025. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  34. ^ "Former Attorney-General's Chambers (now Parliament House Block C)". ROOTS. 4 July 2025. Archived from the original on 4 July 2025. Retrieved 4 July 2025.
  35. ^ Tan, Joanna Hwang Soo; Neo, Tiong Seng (2016). "Singapore Infopedia – Command House". National Library Board (NLB) (Oneline encyclopaedia). Archived from the original on 5 July 2025. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Former Command House". ROOTS. 5 July 2025. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  37. ^ "Former Ford Factory". ROOTS. 6 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  38. ^ "Former Raffles College". ROOTS. 6 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Former Raffles College (now NUS Campus at Bukit Timah)". ROOTS. 6 July 2025. Archived from the original on 6 July 2025. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  40. ^ "Former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station". ROOTS. 7 July 2025. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  41. ^ Mathew, Richa Liz; Baker, Jaleleh Abu (14 March 2024) [13 Mar 2024 (original)]. "Blending the old and new: Former Tanjong Pagar Railway Station's canopy structure to make a comeback". CNA. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  42. ^ "Fort Siloso". ROOTS. 7 July 2025. Archived from the original on 7 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
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