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

What Bulls*** about Conservation of Built Heritage?

By my queenstown on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 with 7 comments

A stroll along the streets of Queenstown is likely to evoke memories towards her rich and diverse history, whether you are an ex-resident or a Singaporean who had never stepped into the heartlands of Queenstown. A nation is an imagined community of people who feel attached to the country because these group of people shared distinctively similar elements of a common heritage and a common experience. Queenstown presents herself as a walking museum of the enduring process of nation building and Singapore's struggle for economic success and social cohesion. In the URA's upcoming plans to conserve built heritage, Queenstown was excluded. Before we set forth our arguments on URA's flawed policy of conservation in Singapore, let us look at URA's principles of conservation.

The Iconic Queenstown Remand Prison is Gone-despite protests from Singaporeans

Monuments, symbols and other built settlements are conserved to enhance Singaporeans' identification and attachment to a particular nation. Some of the objectives in conservation include: 1) instill a sense of pride and achievement and to testify to the pace of social progress; 2) to commemorate a shared experience 3) to preserve and protect monuments of historic, traditional and archaelogical architectural or artistic interest; and 4) to stimulate public interest and support.

Some of these protected areas include colonial buildings like Raffles Hotel, Fullerton Hotel, Civic district; Little India, Chinatown, Kampong Glam; secondary settlements in Beach Road, Joo Chiat, Geylang, etc. The creation of heritage landscapes not only provides Singapore with a sense of historical continuity but also confers on the city on a distinctive visual identity of its own.

Singapore's tallest building then and the first high-rise apartment-Gone

While some the above places are duly recognised and conserved due to their importance in certain phases in time, there are several eye-popping examples of monuments which are conserved but not "national" enough. Many Singaporeans are unable to name them when they see them. 

This is a national monument. Do You know what's its name?

How about this temple?

While some of these unrecognisable (pardon the writer's ignorance) monuments or settlements are gazetted, it puzzles many Queenstown residents why some of the nation's most recognised structures and settlements in Queenstown are being demolished. Some may argue on the economic (tourism) value of these settlements and monuments but the writer would like point out that these temples and churches (no offence to these structures) do not generate money too! 

Examples include Queenstown Remand Prison and Forfar House. When 2011 comes, Commonwealth Avenue Cooked Food Centre (the first food centre built after the Itinerant Hawkers Act was enforced), former Queenstown Cinema and Bowling Centre (The first heartland bowling alley) and KTM tracks (symbol of Singapore's struggle for sovereignty and independence) will duly follow.

Commonwealth Avenue Cooked Food Centre-One of Singapore's most popular food centre in the heartland

KTM tracks have to go

What is so special about Queenstown that her conservation must be advocated? To put it simply, Queenstown's history mirrors the early struggles prior to Singapore's independence. 

Let's talk about Singapore's most recognised structure, the HDB block. 
Rows of 4-storey flats in Commonwealth Drive and Princess House in Strathmore symbolises the colonial government's attempt to improve public housing condition in Singapore after World War II. 
The First HDB Blocks in Stirling Road

Self-governance came and the newly established HDB went on to complete the unfinished buildings and 2-storey "bungalows" in Stirling Road. Blocks 45, 48 and 49 were the first public housing estate built by the newly formed statutory board.

The rush to provide basic sanitary and living environment meant that Tanglin Halt estate was built-in a rush! HDB blocks looked like matchboxes and they were devoid of design and patterns. 

The lack of interest in HDB flats from Singaporeans was reversed with the implementation of Home Ownership Scheme in Commonwealth district in 1964.
Racial tensions among Singaporeans prompted the HDB to introduce "void decks" in 1968 for residents of different race and language groups to mingle. This was first seen in flats in Queens' Close and Mei Ling. 
Singapore's first point block in Mei Ling

In response to the rising demand for privacy from younger generations, the first point block was constructed in Mei Ling in 1969.
The easing of slums in the crowded citycentre in the early 1970s signifies that HDB can depart from its standard architecture and start to introduce "design" and aesthetics. Blk 158A, along Queensway, was fondly termed a "Butterfly Block."

Selective Enbloc Redevelopment Scheme was implemented in 1995 when the estate's appeal was diminishing and many young people had moved out of Queenstown. Forfar Heights, the towering 40 storey flat, was the first SERS scheme introduced in Queenstown.

While Queenstown is rich in its history and heritage, it bewilders residents and Singaporeans alike that some memorable places may have to disappear due to developments in Dawson. Some of them, whose 'status' remains unclear, include Queenstown Public Library and the former Queenstown Polyclinic. 

Queenstown Library-will it stay or go?

The cruel twist of fate meant that Queenstown and her older residents are living at the mercy of time and development. While developments are crucial in sprucing up the mature estate, public consultation is important to garner feedbacks for sustainable development. One day, Queenstown might look entirely different and foreign to her residents who lived there for decades. 

What do you think about conserving built heritage in Queenstown? Tell us at our facebook page now!




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