• Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

    On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 comments

    A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

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  • MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

    On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 comments

    Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

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  • 女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

    On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 comments

    女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

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  • Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

    On 30 Jun 2011 | 6 comments

    Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century.  I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future."

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  • 女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十四期

    On 20 Jun 2011 | 1 comments

    为了鼓励更多女皇镇的青少年阅读华文新闻,《我爱女皇镇》将推出全新单元 《女皇镇1周新闻快讯》,把这个星期观于女皇镇的主要新闻简略的描述。 写在华义中学创校55周年 40年前 华义发扬美学教育  对很多学校来说,拥有校友会是平常不过的事。但是,今年庆祝创校55周年的华义中学,却没有正式的校友会。上个世纪五十年代的华义学生虽然曾经组织一个校友会,不过并没有招募新校友注入“新血”。到了九十年代,一些会员已经逝世,校友会势力变单薄,无奈在五六年前解散。  这让许多华义校友感到惋惜,其中包括毕业40年却不曾加入校友会的黄美芬(58岁)和戴月英(57岁)。目前担任新加坡读书会发展协会会长的黄美芬受访时说:“协会经常和不同学校合作。我发现很多学校的校友会阵容都很强大,很羡慕他们,因为自己的学校连校友会都

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  • Pasar @ MyQueenstown #2 - the Provisions Shop Golden Couple

    On 12 Jun 2011 | 2 comments

    Mr Chen, 63, together with his wife Mdm Chan, has been running their dried product store at #01-16 Meiling Market. Mr and Mrs Chen lives in Queenstown, so travelling time is not a major problem for them to open their store at 6am in the morning. Having running their business for over 30 years in the same market, the couple has more or less 

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Farewell MyQueenstown

Farewell MyQueenstown #7 - Farewell KTM Tracks

On 30 Jun 2011 | 6 Comments

Much has been written about KTM Tracks lately. A simple search on Google and Yahoo will bring you to numerous websites such as this and this. After all, this cantankerous relic was Singapore's brave new world in the early 20th century.  I have always been a believer of my secondary school's motto, "Rooted in Tradition, Equipped for the Future."

永别了!女皇镇!#7 一摊油条传三代

On 30 Apr 2011 | 1 Comments

一摊油条传三代 在玛格列熟食中心,“生活公市”说得上是个客至如云的摊子。这个小摊子,不售卖任何煮炒;摊子主人则一年三百六十五天,天天在摊内起个炉炸上一条条的油条。 “生活公市”摊主李马才先生(58岁)是这家油条摊的第三代。 祖父自中国南来便炸油条为业,后来其父亦继承了祖父的业务。“生活公市”自1969年起,正式迁入玛格列熟食中心营业。李先生从小便跟随父亲学手艺,在油锅边打转。 李先生的油条,以香脆爽口闻名。在80年代初,李先生每一日几乎可炸近200条油条。李家一家五人总要齐齐上阵来应付顾客的需要。 如今,虽然李先生的摊子已搬迁到亚历山大村熟食中心,但他对玛格列熟食中心仍然十分怀念。再见了,玛格列熟食中心!

Farewell MyQueenstown #6 - The Taste of Wanton Noodle Lingers...

On 24 Mar 2011 | 18 Comments

Mr. Phoon Hon Sun, 64, and his family started selling barbeque pork from a pushcart at the terminal for Hock Lee bus service no.9 some 53 years ago. The bus terminal was located next to Blocks 6B and 7 along Margaret Close, a cluster of flats which were demolished during the 1990s. A familiar sight no more Every afternoon, residents who lived in the seven

Home Sweet Home @ MyQueenstown

Home Sweet Home #15 - A New Day Has Come =)

On 24 Apr 2011 | 11 Comments

Last week, MyQueenstown team interviewed Mdm Chan about her life in Blk 15 Holland Drive. Under SERS, she was assigned a new apartment in the newly developed blocks just a stone throw sway. Today, we visit Hisham Suni, 38, who moved over from Blk 17 to his new apartment in Blk 18C Holland Drive. Hisham Suni and his son =) Hisham is delighted by his new ap

Home Sweet Home #14 - Farewell Holland Drive

On 17 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Blk 15, Holland Drive looked vacant and cold when MyQueenstown team visited this morning. The shop houses under the apartment block were all covered with card boards and all that was left were traces of glass panels, which could possibly be a beauty parlor in its place before. The lift was still working. Mdm Chan - a long time resident at Holland Drive A c

Home Sweet Home #13 - Commonwealth 10! Here I Come!

On 10 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

The front door was wide open when MyQueenstown team visited Mr Lee, 78, at his apartment in Blk 74 Commonwealth Drive. Feeling curious, we knocked onto the door and was greeted by a sleepy looking Mr Lee. Mr Lee who lives alone at Block 74 Retired more than a decade ago, Mr Lee is living alone as he prefers being independent to tagging along with his chi

News@MyQueenstown

Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 Comments

A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 Comments

Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 Comments

女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

My Father and I

Former Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate

On 14 May 2011 | 2 Comments

The industrialisation programme took off in Queenstown when the Tanglin Halt Industrial Estate was established to generate employment in the neighbourhood. Initially, the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) planned a small industrial estate at Tanglin Halt to provide employment for the new residents. Measuring some 20 acres of land consisting of 38 factories

Queenstown Baptist Church

On 03 May 2011 | 1 Comments

The Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) set aside seven sites for religious use and advertised for religious organisations to ballot in the 1950s. Of the ten enquiries received, four withdrew, leaving six Christian organisations. These went on to build the first churches of Queenstown; Queenstown Baptist Church, Queenstown Lutheran Church, Faith Methodist Ch

Archipelago Brewery Company (Anchorpoint)

On 22 Apr 2011 | 3 Comments

Established in 1931 by German businessmen, Archipelago Brewery Company was the first commercial brewery in Singapore. It was located next to the Malayan Railway, which provided convenient transportation for exporting the beer in Tanjong Pagar. Archipelago Brewery Company One of the more popular beer produced at Archipelago Brewery Company was Anchor Beer.

Makan Shiok!

Snacks Attack #13 - Ah Luck Bean Curd

On 23 Dec 2010 | 2 Comments

Mr Chua, 25, runs Ah Luck Beancurd in Tanglin Halt market for more than 2 years. He is renting the stall from the original owner who has based his stall in the same area for more than 40 years. Ah Luck Bean Curd offers drinks and deserts such as soya bean drink, grass jelly and the residents' favorite soya bean curd (60 cents). A Delicious Bowl of Bean Curd

Snacks Attack #12 - Satay Mad in Tanglin Halt!

On 16 Dec 2010 | 7 Comments

 Ann, 46 runs the family food stall for over 10 years in Tanglin Halt hawker centre. Serving halal food for over a decade in the same place, Ann has integrated her dishes to suit the taste buds of Queenstown residents, especially the Malay community. The simple food stall offers snacks such as satay, otah and seafood dishes. As a family styled bus

Snacks Attack #11 - Almond & Peanut Paste!

On 09 Dec 2010 | 0 Comments

DessertStory, located in Anchorpoint basement one, has been serving residents tasty snacks and deserts for the past four years. Wendy, the supervisor of the cafe, introduced the various homemade desserts that they offer. A bowl of Almond Paste Hot desserts are mainly the favourite choice among Queenstown residents. Firstly, they have almond paste which is m

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #9 - 7 Funerals in 2 weeks

On 22 May 2011 | 0 Comments

7 funerals in 2 weeks. There is a flurry of "activity" these two weeks for correspondents from My Queenstown. We did not leave our traces in photographs as a mark of respect for the deceased. We did leave our sincere prayers and heartfelt condolences for those present. Quietly and fleetingly, we made our way to some of the funerals and understood that all o

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #8 - Block 39A No More (The Removal of Block 39A Part I)

On 05 Apr 2011 | 8 Comments

On a Friday afternoon three weeks ago, several Bangladeshi workers, presumably from the Town Council, took their tool boxes to the lift lobby of Block 39A. In less than half an hour, they carried a metallic frame on their shoulders and placed it on a lorry parked in front of the apartment block. Farewell Block 39A The letterboxes The stretch of corrid

Random Thoughts @ MyQueenstown #7 - A New Coat of Paint

On 22 Mar 2011 | 1 Comments

The Point Blocks, along with 5 other blocks at Mei Ling Street were given a new coat of paint over the past week. The familiar combination of blue, yellow and orange was a thing of the past as these foreign workers toiled day and night, rain or shine to make Mei Ling Street "attractive again." White seems to be the "in" thing in Queenstown lately. Ten-store

Other Recent Articles

Response to Straits Times Forum: "Active Citizenry Needs Space to Find Its Feet"

On 26 Aug 2011 | 25 Comments

A week ago, Mr. Eric Tan, Director of the National Archives of Singapore, explained that the archives have generously acceded to our requests for photographs to be published in our website, upcoming book and newsletter. This was not the full story. Last year, we wrote in to the National Archives of Singapore, requesting them to sponsor photographs of the ol

MyQueenstown Celebrates: Consecration Ceremony at Sri Muneeswaran Temple!

On 10 Jul 2011 | 1 Comments

Tanglin Halt residents are wokened up by the vociferous wailing of nadaswaram and thavil ensemble at Sri Muneeswaran Temple this morning. More than 15,000 residents and devotees have gathered at the Southeast Asia's largest Hindu temple worshiping the Muneeswaran god to witness the consecration ceremony. A consecration ceremony is a festive occasion done on

女皇镇1周新闻快讯 - 第二十五期

On 08 Jul 2011 | 6 Comments

女皇弄组屋 同一垃圾糟 两年3纵火  女皇弄组屋走廊垃圾糟,三度起火,居民人心惶惶,警列恶作剧纵火处理。 位于女皇镇一带的女皇弄第21座组屋8楼的电梯口,今早7时15分左右发生大火。 一名住在事发地点附近的居民,惊见滚滚黑烟从该处冒出 最高74万5000元 最低40多万 女皇镇 四房转售价 相差近37万  在热门组屋区女皇镇里,有四房式组屋最近以74万5000元的最高价转售,但也有37万8000元。 组屋溢价回升之际,热门地点如女皇镇的组屋转售价也持续攀升。今年4月,一间位于女皇镇史达拉摩道(Strathmore Ave)的四房式高楼单位,以74万5000元售出。 最后一次乘搭火车北上  火车开动了!该各就各位了吧。经过女皇镇、武吉知马、武吉班让时看到铁路旁站着许

TOP 10!! Most Memorable Structure!

By my queenstown on Saturday, August 14, 2010 with 6 comments

Queenstown comprises an eclectic mix of colourful places and people, "each a charming addition to the town's multi-faceted identity." In the 1970s, Queenstown "hip" factor was increased by several notches with the three cinemas and the shopping complex, housing the then largest Chinese restaurant and sole air conditioned emporium. These structures were demolished in the 1990s, erasing the memories of a generation of Queenstown residents. In the past few months and in the upcoming years, many iconic structures will walk down memory land as Queenstown strive to reinvent itself to be Singapore's premier district. Through the lens of MyQueenstown Team, let us recall our Top 10 most memorable buildings or structures in Queenstown!

Commonwealth Avenue Cooked Food Centre

Food Centres, like wet markets, are essential to every community, hence they were planned into each neighbourhood. They were built in phases and insync with the surrounding district. Commonwealth Avenue Cooked Food Centre, built in 1969 to serve the residents in the Duchess Estate or "Queenstown Central," is slated for closure on 28 February 2011. The heavenly combination  of Hai Kee Teochew Cha Kua Teow, Shanghai Dimsum, Queenstown Poh Pia and many others will forever be etched in our memories.


Fair Price Cooperative

Residents used to buy their rice and goods in this cooperative operated by NTUC. There was a giant book store at the second level where many kids and students will remember buying books. These days, the supermarket offers respite from the defying heat. As it shuts its doors next year, Strathmore residents may have to travel to Dawson Place or Tanglin Halt for their groceries.

Queenstown Remand Prison

Queenstown Remand Prison should be completely demolished as this article is published. Opened on 23 September 1966, it solves the prison overcrowding problem in Outram Prison. Screams and ghosts were believed to be haunting the prison which housed famous inmates such as American teenager Michael Fay and author ofSingapore, My Home Too, Chee Soon Juan. Many ghost busters have mentioned in forums that spirits and ghosts were spotted at night.

The Quiet Holland Avenue District

Many parts of Queenstown are undergoing facelifts. One district that is included in the Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) is Holland Avenue. For many years, Holland Avenue has been a quiet and peaceful part of Queenstown where residents will cycle along the paths. Come 2011, these 40 year old shop houses (above) will say goodbye and moved to those gigantic 40 storey flats next to Buona Vista Bus Terminal.

Block 39A

Overlooking a brilliant skyline of Queenstown and Orchard; Listening to the birds' melodious chirping; Enjoying the 'windiest' breeze in Singapore, Residents in Block 39A have experienced it all. Once it was the tallest flat in Queenstown, it appeared like a dwarf when we compared it to those 40-storey giants in Forfar Heights. Time seems to come to a halt when you look at the breathtaking sceneries. 

KTM tracks at Queens' Close and Tanglin Halt

After 20 years of political dilly-dallying, the historic deal to jointly develop the KTM land was concluded by leaders of Malaysia and Singapore. These sound of chooing trains will soon be thing of the past. As reported in April, these KTM tracks used to be a playground for many Queenstown residents. Some residents may be excited and happy to see it go while other residents may mull over the prospect of losing another part of their physical memory.

Taxi Stand at Jalan Hang Jebat

This taxi kiosk at Jalan Hang Jebat has witnessed the "migration" of the iconic ColBar and the construction of a modern flyover. Such taxi kiosk will be soon a thing of the past when plans to develop Jalan Hang Jebat and Portsdown Road materialise in the coming years. This 50 year old resting point lies next to the lush, green and tranquil estate that is set on hilly terrain and filled with scores of old rain trees, angsana and coconut palms.




Residents will not forget to say "hi" or "goodbye" to the comical and friendly Yeo brothers when they visit the mama stall or the community library. They stayed on because he wished to spend more time with his friends and residents who built a strong rapport with him and his brother over the years.

Queenstown Cinema and Bowling Alley

This is the place where many young couples held their hands for the first time. This is the place where young, energetic students strike a double or a turkey with their friends. The cinema, today, looked like a dilapidated and forlorn figure among the skyscrappers in Forfar Heights. 

Tanglin Halt Chap Lao Chu No More

Following the foot steps of Blk50s+, Blk 70s+ 'beach boys' of Tanglin Halt will make way for another district of 40 storeys across Commonwealth Drive by 2012. This is one of the remaining flats in Queenstown overlooking the KTM tracks. Time and tide waits for no man...

Change seems to be a constant in every parts of Queenstown. Everyone and every structure has their story to say and their memories to preserve. These 10 photos represent our 10 most memorable structures and buildings in Queenstown today. What are yours?

Discuss your most memorable structures in Queenstown in our facebook page now!


POST COMMENT

6 comments:

Anonymous said...
August 14, 2010 at 3:17 PM

Its really sad that Commonwealth Avenue Cooked Food Centre and the Fair Price Cooperative will be gone.
What price progress? Most likely it will end up just like the vacant spot where Emporium used to be.
How much is enough PAP? Please stop destroying Singapore!!

vizard said...
August 15, 2010 at 4:14 AM

I'm disappointed that the Commonwealth Ave Hawker Centre will be demolished. I didn't know that the NTUC nearby will be destroyed too!! What about the old cinema? They really should do something about attempting to preserve this stretch of Queenstown, rather than send in the bulldozers. It's always easier to destroy places than to reenvision new spaces within existing places.

Please, someone tell me that they will not destroy the Queenstown library as well!

(Am shocked to see the prison demolished too.. I thought they were going to reuse that space as an art enclave??)

Coward Wizard said...
August 15, 2010 at 8:36 AM

The Prison is most probably an empty plot of land today I saw the trucks removing the debris the other day. (of course i know it after reading this blog)
@ Vizard http://myqueenstown.blogspot.com/2010/06/farewell-queenstown-remand-prison.html

Anonymous said...
August 15, 2010 at 3:53 PM

I drove past it a few days back and the frontage is still there. Either they have yet to tear it down or they will build a mall there while retaining that single wall. Prolly called 'Prisonis@Queens' if current naming of buildings is to be followed. 'A showcase of law, order and shopping under one compound of the future! Shop till you drop on paths where others were caned till they dropped!'

Anonymous said...
March 23, 2011 at 6:34 PM

I had grown up at this Queenstown area,i love to go to the birdshop,Emporium,NTUC,Market and Food Centre to have breakfast.That will be my weekend routine and i will never forget that till now.Sure i will miss all that now and forever...and at least i had told my child and bring them where i used to stroll around...thanks to Queenstown for the Old days...

Anonymous said...
March 29, 2011 at 9:06 AM

It was announced some time back that they will be preserving the market and a 'plaza'. The market must be block 38. Don't which plaza was it referring to.

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