The Singapore Civic District Heritage Trail offers a comprehensive look at the nation’s history, with key starting points located near the Singapore River, including the area around the Fullerton Hotel and the nearby Merlion Park. This 1.5 km trail (often referred to as the Monument Trail) takes roughly 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete, having several historical sites which we are going to cover
Part 1 of the series can be read here
Part-2 of the series can be read here
Next buildings we come across is The Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, buildings that are symbols of Singapore’s thriving cultural scene.
The Victoria Theatre, built between 1856 and 1862, is of 19th- century British Neoclassical architecture. This building first served as the Singapore Town Hall and later became a theatre.
Victoria Concert Hall, then known as Victoria Memorial, was built later in 1905, in memory of Queen Victoria. This second building was used as a hospital when the Japanese bombed Singapore in 1941 to 1942, and after World War II in 1945, it was the venue for Japanese war crime trials.
Look out for the 54m clock tower that links the two buildings
Victoria theatre with Raffles statue in front
Victoria theatre clock tower
Dalhousie Obelix as seen from Victoria theatre
We now arrive at The Arts House at the Old Parliament (previously Parliament House)
A plaque here shows current National Emblem of Singapore (adopted in 1959) featuring a lion and tiger supporting a shield with a crescent and five stars.
A bronze elephant sculpture commemorating the first foreign visit by a Siamese king is located in front. The statue was gifted by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) of Siam (now Thailand) to commemorate his first-ever visit to a foreign land, which was to Singapore on March 16, 1871. The elephant is a symbol of the Siamese monarchy and was presented as a token of appreciation for the hospitality received during his visit. It is considered a symbol of the long-standing friendship between Singapore and Thailand. Erected on June 25, 1872, it was initially placed in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall. In 1919, the statue was moved to its current location
Next is the Former Supreme Court Building
It was built between 1937 and 1939. Designed by Frank Dorrington Ward, it is renowned for its Neoclassical architectural style, featuring iconic Corinthian columns and a dome, and a time capsule buried beneath it in 1937.
It was the last major classical building constructed during the British colonial era. It was repurposed as the National Gallery Singapore in 2015 after being combined with the adjacent former City Hall to create a new art institution.
Victoria theatre as seen from old Supreme court building
Empress place Former supreme court and Victoria theatre
Close by is the Former City Hall
It was built between 1926 and 1929 in a Neoclassical style, featuring a prominent 18 row of Corinthian columns. Designed by F.D. Meadows and A. Gordon of the Public Works Department, it was initially known as the Municipal Building before being renamed City Hall in 1951. . The building was where Lord Mountbatten accepted the Japanese surrender in 1945 and where Singapore was declared a city in 1951. The former City Hall along with the former Supreme Court building, was repurposed and officially opened as the National Gallery Singapore in November 2015.
The New Parliament house and the New Supreme court building are in the vicinity. Visitors without prior permission are not allowed
New Parliament house
New Supreme court
To be continued….
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