Family Travelogue: Mouth of Singapore River

Place of Interest in Singapore

The mouth of the Singapore River, going upstream, starts from the esplanade area to the three Quays along the river: Boat quay, clarke quay, roberson quay. The mouth empties at Marina Bay. The bay is accross the esplanade bridge, the other side of the The Big Durian

Mouth of Singpaore River with the veiw of the Esplanade Theatres on the bay

On the left is the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay (often refer as The Big Durian) and the Esplanade Bridge

The Big Durian on the reclaimed land in the Marina bay area

Esplanade Theatres on the bay

Mouth of Singpaore River with the veiw of the Esplanade Theatres on the bay

Anderson Bridge, Singapore

going upstream, passing under the Anderson Bridge

Anderson Bridge

Anderson Bridge connects the Finance District (South) to City Hall (North). It is a vehicular bridge spans across the Singapore River.

During the Japanese Occupation (1942~1945), the heads of the criminals were hung on the bridge to remind the citizens not to break the law.

Anderson Bridge

Cavenagh bridge, Singapore

Cavenagh bridge towards the boat quay

Cavenagh bridge

Cavenagh bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Singapore opened in 1870. It is the only suspension bridge in Singapore. Rickshaws and ox carts had been carried by the bridge in the earlier years. When the bridge was unable to cope up with the traffic flow, Anderson Bridge was built in 1910.
The government had decided not to demolish the Cavenagh bridge. It is now a pedestrian bridge.

The First Generation near the Cavenagh bridge, Singapore

The sculptures depict the Singapore kids in the first generation. Apparently, Singapore was not as progressive as today, yet the happiness, joy and contentment could be visualized from the subject. Playfully and without fear jumping off to the around 7m depth river

The First Generation near the Cavenagh bridge

The sculptures are called "The First Generation" located near the Cavenagh bridge and created by Chong Fah Cheong.

Cavenagh bridge

Cavenagh Bridge

1. The mouth of Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore located at the Southern part of the Island.

2. Early inhabitants were the Orang Lauts or "Sea Gypsies" and Malays.

3. Temenggong Abdul Rahman settled near the river mouth. Former was the Sultan of Singapore before Sir Stamford Raffles discovered the city.

4. Sir Stamford Raffles arrived at the North Bank of the Singapore River.

5. In June 1819, a huge rock was discovered with ancient inscriptions that no one had ever translated. The rock believed to date back in the 13th centuries or earlier. The rock had been blown in 1843 to clear further and widen the passageway to the river and to make space for a Fort and the quarters of its commanders. The remains from the blast is displayed in the Singapore History Gallery at the National Museum of Singapore and was named "Singapore Stone". Latter is at present one of the 12 artifact collections.

6. As per History text book, Singapore was called Temasek before the 13th century. Temasek means sea port or sea town. The ancient fishing village was at the Singapore River Mouth

7. Singapore Myth: In the 13th century, Sang Nila Utama from Palembang in Sumatra was then looking for a new settlement outside of his country of origin that he could call a city. He spotted an island and learnt that is was called Temasek. While he was hunting in Temasek, he thought he saw a peculiar animal which was very fast, immediately disappeared into the jungle. His chief minister told him it could probably be a lion. He then named his new city, Singapura, Singa means lion and pura means city.

8. Singapore River was a busy port during the 14th century. the business declined from 14th century until the arrival of Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819.

9. From 1820, the mouth had been the centre of trade, finance and commerce. Buildings and bridges were built.

10. After 1825, the area became a convict centre. It was a gaol (jail) for Indian convicted in British India. The convicts were transported to Singapore to serve out their sentences and assist with the labour shortage. Singapore, the newly acquired settlement in that period, was the fastest growing among others. These convicts helped built the early public roads, monumental buildings and bridges. They actually built the early Singapore.

11. From 1880, Singapore River became crowded due to increasing immigrants living along the river. As trade expanded, it became polluted with the pig wastes from farm, oil spills from boats, industrial waste products, disposal of garbage from hawkers and settlers and sewage.

In 1977, the then Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, called for the clean up project of the Singapore River and the Kallang Basin. The clean up took 10 years and it cost S$170million. Part of the clean up was the relocation of the 4,000 squatters to public housing and hawkers were persuaded to transfer to the hawker centres.. The port had been re located to Keppel Harbour and Harbourfrontt and later took over by the other terminals. Foul smell from the river had been dredged and the thrown rubbish had been cleared.

The Government had introduced the Clean Rivers Education Programme in 1987. The programme goal was to raise awareness of the negative effects of dumping waste and to encourage people to make the waterways clean.

The Mouth of the Singapore River at present
PREVIOUSLY THE PORT OF SINGAPORE

Fullerton hotel

Boat Quay

Singapore River

On the left is the Boat quay at the South bank of the Singapore River. Previously the Port of Singapore

Boat Quay Restaurants

Many immigrants worked and lived around Singapore back then. Chinese squatted at the South Bank of the river. Malays and Indians at the Kampong upstream and later moved to Kallang.

Singapore River

The south of the river is like the belly of a fish, as per chinese belief, it is where prosperity and luck lay. Many shophouses were built which crowded the area. At present, more financial and business buildings were built within the southern area.

Boat Quay

UOB plaza.

The original mouth emptied at Singapore straits. After the major land reclamation, Singapore river empties into Marina bay and is now part of the Marina Reservoir to create fresh water.

The mouth of Singapore River today has shifted from that of trade and port to more of tourism and sort of beautifying the commercial zones of Singapore.

You may want to see also Boat Quay and the North bank of Singapore River.

Other Places of Interest in Singapore

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