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A City that Cherishes its Past
Conserving built heritage is an integral part of our planning process. Beyond conservation, there are also different ways to celebrate and recall our heritage.
Last updated 25 June 2025
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Supporting many ways of remembering
The Heritage and Identity Plan is an initiative to identify, retain and enhance heritage and identity areas, nodes, corridors and buildings across Singapore. It outlines their potential to contribute to the layered history of our island home, and keeps the meanings and memories of places alive. This will enhance what has been physically kept and help build a collective sense of ownership.
Telling our stories
The journey of Singapore’s development can be traced through the events and stories embedded in our building fabric. This timeline traces selected sites of heritage and identity which illustrate the nation’s story across different themes of Economy, Housing, Social and Defence.
Woven together, they are the building blocks in Singapore’s progress as an independent nation. We will continue to find ways to recall and celebrate our cherished built heritage and the stories they tell.
The buildings shown in this timeline are a sample of the many buildings that tell the story of Singapore’s development.
A British Colony (1800s-1900)
Establishment of commercial centre, ethnic settlements, key institutions and supporting facilities.
Economy
Singapore's growth from a trading port to a global hub can be traced from our commercial, industrial, transport and utility infrastructure developments.
Early economic activities concentrated around the Singapore River and Keppel Harbour, in close proximity to the Commercial Square (now Raffles Place).
Housing
From shophouses and tropical bungalows in early Singapore, our housing landscape has undergone significant changes, with more variety and widespread public apartments.
The local population mostly lived in shophouses in urbanised areas or in rural settlements outside the city centre.
The shophouse districts included Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam.
Bungalow estates were developed on large plots of land in the outskirts of the city for the more well-to-do.
Source: Petter Geddes
The earliest government-built bungalow estates were at Botanic Gardens and Goodwood Hill. The buildings within Botanic Gardens have been repurposed for diverse community uses today.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Large private bungalows like the one at Mount Sophia were often sited along the coast or amid lush greenery.
Social
Singapore's social infrastructure has evolved from basic healthcare facilities and modest schools to well-equipped and modern developments to serve the growing population and meet higher aspirations.
Education, healthcare and social services were largely community-driven and founded by early settlers.
Clan schools such as Chui Eng Free School provided free education for the local Chinese community.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Community hospitals like Thong Chai Medical Institution provided free medical treatment for the needy.
Source: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Places of worship such as the Armenian Church also offered space for various ethnic communities to gather.
Early private recreational clubs like the Singapore Cricket Club were founded by the Europeans.
The former Telok Ayer Market (now Lau Pa Sat) was the first purpose-built market in Singapore.
Source: Lim Kheng Chye Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Early hospitals like Singapore General Hospital provided medical care for the populace.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Defence
Defence has always been a priority to ensure both the internal and external safety of our island state through the military, law enforcement, and fire security.
Military, police and fire-fighting services were first established to provide essential protection for the colony. Other civic institutions were also set up.
Early forts like Fort Canning protected the town and harbour from attack.
Source: Royal Tropical Institute Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Tanglin Barracks (now Dempsey) and Blakang Mati Barracks were examples of the earliest British military camps.
The first courthouse was established in 1827 at Parliament House.
Source: Lim Kheng Chye Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The Central Fire Station was a centralised base for the fire-fighting services.
Source: Lee Brothers Studio Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The Inter-war Years (1910s-1940s)
Provision of more housing, education and social services as the population expanded beyond city limits.
Economy
Going beyond city limits
Steam technology and steel construction revolutionised transport, industry and infrastructure expansion which included new land, sea and air gateways.
Malayan Railway, with its terminal station at Tanjong Pagar, spurred industrial growth.
Source: Tony Jones Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Clifford Pier was a landing point for sea travel.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
The first civilian airport was located in Kallang.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Housing
Addressing population boom
The earliest public housing estates were built by the colonial government to tackle urban blight and congestion in the city.
Mixed residential and commercial belts were developed further from the city centre in Secondary Settlements like Joo Chiat, Balestier and Jalan Besar.
Source: Children's Museum Singapore, formerly Singapore Philatelic Museum
Tiong Bahru was the first housing estate developed by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT).
Source: Ministry of Culture Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Higher-rise SIT estates like Dakota Crescent were also later built to address the urgent housing need.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Estates built by the colonial Public Works Department and Municipal Authority like Adam Park and Kampong Kapor housed staff from the government service.
Social
Larger and more specialised facilities were developed to house essential services like healthcare and education.
To prevent the spread of tropical diseases, complexes like the Middleton Hospital and Quarantine Stations at St John's Island were built.
As birth rates increased rapidly, specialised maternity services were provided by Kandang Kerbau (KK) Hospital.
Source: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Postal services were available at the General Post Office (now Fullerton Building).
Source: Lim Kheng Chye Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Later schools like St. Andrew's School were built with larger campuses and dedicated facilities.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Reprinted with permission.
Leisure facilities were built to provide recreation for the masses; community amenities were provided to serve those living outside the city.
Religious buildings like the Khadijah Mosque were set up to serve communities further from the city centre.
The former Bukit Timah Turf Club was a popular venue for this spectator sport, and a unique common ground for all races and classes.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
As movie-going became popular, cinemas like Capitol Theatre were built.
To meet growing enrolment in outlying areas, schools like Pasir Panjang English School were built.
Defence
"Gibraltar of The East"
The British developed the extensive Sembawang Naval Base as part of the empire's defence strategy in the Far East.
Source: Collection held by the National Archives of Singapore. Crown copyright.
Key police facilities were established such as the Hill St. Police Station, Pearl's Hill Police Barracks and police stations at Beach Road and Joo Chiat. The Mount Pleasant Police Academy served as a specialised base for police training.
To protect and support the naval base, the British established self-contained airbases and army cantonments such as those at Seletar and Tengah Airbase, Gillman Barracks and Changi.
The Former City Hall and Supreme Court (now National Gallery Singapore) housed the seat of the judiciary and important government services.
Source: RAFSA Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Fire stations were built in outlying areas such as Geylang and Sembawang.
Source: National Library Singapore
Achieving Independence (1950-1960s)
Decolonisation and setting up of key national agencies and policies for self-government and independence.
Economy
Strategy for an independent economy
The push to create jobs as well as achieve economic self-reliance led to initiatives like the opening up of Jurong for industrial developments.
Jurong Industrial Estate kickstarted Singapore's industrialisation journey.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
National Iron & Steel Mills, the first factory in Jurong Industrial Estate - was a key steel supplier for MRT and public housing projects.
Source: NatSteel
Jurong Hill Tower with vantage views of Jurong Industrial Estate was noteworthy for hosting international dignitaries and potential investors.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Local power stations like Pasir Panjang Power Station helped meet growing demands for electricity.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
There was a rise of local pioneer companies for "made in Singapore" products, such as the Prima Flour Mill.
Source: Prima Limited
Housing
Set up in 1960, the Housing & Development Board (HDB) focused on urban renewal of the city centre as part of its first 5-year plan.
Jalan Bukit Ho Swee was one of the earliest HDB housing estates.
Source: Collection of the National Museum of Singapore, National Heritage Board
Selegie House, the first project carried out under the HDB urban renewal programme, provided modern high-rise flats in the city centre.
Source: HDB
Upon taking over from SIT, HDB also completed previous ongoing projects started by the British, like Blocks 45, 48, 49 Stirling Road.
Source: HDB
To bring people back into the city, mixed-use housing complexes like Tanjong Pagar Plaza were built.
Source: HDB
Planned as early as the 1960s, Toa Payoh Town Centre was completed in time for the South East Asian Peninsular (SEAP) Games in September 1973 and featured the largest pedestrian shopping complex in Singapore.
Source: HDB
Social
Bringing people together
As a newly independent nation, sports, arts, and education were seen as ways to promote cohesion between the races.
Institutions like Singapore Polytechnic were important drivers to upskill the workforce for industrialisation. Standardised school types such as Upper Thomson Secondary School were also developed.
With the advent of the golden age of local cinema, film spaces like the Shaw Malay Film Productions Studio and Metropole Cinema thrived during this period.
Public facilities such as the Singapore Badminton Stadium and Yan Kit Swimming Pool were developed to promote a sporting culture and house national sporting associations.
As part of the 5-year plan to improve access to modern medical services, facilities like the Institute of Health were established.
The gardens of Haw Par Villa were popular with the public as a cultural park.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Defence
British return and withdrawal
Regional defence assumed greater importance after World War II, together with the need to build up Singapore's own defences in the lead up to British military withdrawal.
The former Royal Malayan Navy Headquarters was built to support regional defence after the war.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Conscription for National Service began at the former Beach Road Camp.
Source: National Archives of Singapore
Nation Building (1970-1980s)
New prototypes and urban typologies to address post-independence challenges and propel progress.
Economy
Emergence of a modern metropolis
Modern landmarks reflected our progress as a young economy, especially in the Central Business District (CBD).
Skyscrapers like DBS Building (now OUE Downtown) and OCBC Centre in the 'Golden Shoe' stood out in our early city skyline.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Our iconic Changi Airport commenced commercial operation on 1 July 1981.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Mixed-use developments like Golden Mile Complex and People's Park Complex were projects from the first Government Land Sales in Singapore.
Industries were located near public housing estates to bring jobs closer to homes and attract residents, especially women, to join the workforce.
Flatted and red-brick terraced factories offered convenient job opportunities near homes.
Housing
Housing a new nation New towns
Were planned and developed comprehensively to provide modern and affordable public housing.
The 'New Town Structural Model' was first piloted in Toa Payoh and later adopted in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok and Clementi.
Each town was planned comprehensively with various types of housing and a variety of facilities to create a self-sufficient environment conducive for live, work, play, and learn.
HDB estates were later designed to have distinct character and identities.
Unique forms like the Block 259 Ang Mo Kio Ave 2 (Clover @ Kebun Baru) Block Ang Mo Kio and sloping roofs in Potong Pasir Avenue 3 contribute to distinct estate identities.
Social
Key public amenities, built as large venues for activities and events, helped to instil a sense of national pride.
The Singapore Conference Hall is one building that embodied the hope and courage of Singapore as a fledgling nation in its post-colonial years. Similar public buildings like the National Theatre, Library, and Stadium were also symbols of these aspirations. Their uses continue to be upheld through modern counterparts.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
The renowned Singapore Indoor Stadium with a flexible internal layout is a familiar venue for international, national and local community events.
Source: National Heritage Board, courtesy of the National Museum of Singapore
Servicing the heartlands
Social amenities such as libraries, clinics, schools, hawker centres, community centres, and sports facilities were provided within the new towns, creating self-contained community hubs.
Temasek Junior College is an example of a school planned and built for students living in the eastern new towns. Its function will continue in a new campus at the same locality.
Source:
Community centres and libraries like the Queenstown Library provided important cultural and social spaces.
Source: National Library Singapore
Sports and recreational facilities like Clementi Sports Complex were introduced as a standard amenity in all new towns.
Source: HDB
Defence
The establishment of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and compulsory national service marked a new era in Singapore's defence story.
The first SAF-built camps like Bedok Camp housed their first generation of units.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Reprinted with permission.
The headquarters of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) was shifted to Gombak Base.
Source: MINDEF
City of Excellence (1990s onwards)
Refinement and drive towards first-world status.
Economy
Looking forward and outward
The 'City of Tomorrow' plan envisioned a new downtown at Marina Bay as a modern waterfront city.
Marina Bay area became an extension of the CBD with more distinctive skyscrapers and world-class leisure destinations such as Marina Bay Sands.
Source: Andrew JK Tan
Towards a knowledge-based economy
To position ourselves as a global business hub, a decentralisation strategy was adopted.
Jurong Lake District is envisioned to be the largest mixed-use business node outside the city centre.
Tampines Regional Centre was planned to grow more commercial centres in suburban areas.
Housing
An innovation-driven approach
The Design and Build scheme was launched to involve the private sector in designing public housing, leading to innovation in housing types.
The first Design and Build Project in Tampines was completed in 1995. The landmark development at Tampines St 45 features a distinctive red-brick, figure-of-eight design.
Source: HDB
Integrated developments were created to combine residential, retail and recreational spaces together with convenient access to public transport.
Pinnacle @ Duxton is the first 50-storey public housing project. A result from an international competition, the project's unique design redefined the mass-produced image previously associated with public housing.
Source: The Edge Property Pte Ltd., Copyright © 2022. Reproduced with permission.
Kampung Admiralty was the first 'active ageing' integrated development that supports active ageing through the combination of housing, healthcare, social services, as well as communal and commercial amenities for the elderly.
Source: WOHA / K.Kopter
Social
There was also an emphasis on improving Singapore's cultural standing.
Continuing the function of a national centre to promote a culture of sports, the Sports Hub was built with integrated facilities.
Source: SportSG
The Esplanade opened as a world-class performing arts centre.
School of the Arts, Singapore (SOTA), opened as Singapore's first specialised secondary-level arts school.
Defence
Facilities were modernised and consolidated into integrated complexes for the forces' operational and training needs.
SAFTI Military Institute brought training for the Air Force, Navy, and Army together within a single facility.
Source: Woh Hup