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Singapore’s Early Years
1970s
#5/10
Colonial architecture
Immigration Office
When I went to Singapore in 1969 to apply for a visa, the immigration office was located in a colonial-style building as shown in the photo below.
The officer was still an English personnel. In 1970, there were few foreigners employed, and visa issuance operations were carried out in such colonial-style buildings like this.
Later, in Singapore, the demand for workers exploded, and the demand for foreigners increased, and the immigration office was moved to a huge office building, and this colonial building was transformed into a museum.
Colonial Mansion
British Colonial Mansion 1
In Singapore’s lush green luxury neighborhoods, a number of mansions with large grounds remained. There were former army officers, managers of the East India Company, managers of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, managers of the Port of Singapore, and so on.
After the war, the British colonists sold off the many mansions that remained.
The mansions in the high-end residential areas off-limits to locals ended up in the hands of wealthy Chinese descent.
Because the land area was large enough, most of them were demolished, with the exception of a few, and luxury condominiums were built on the large land..
In addition, the large house in the vast site of more than 5 hectares in the photo below has been demolished and is now transformed into the Indonesian embassy, the ambassador’s residence and staff quarters. (photo below)
The mansion of the former British East India Company manager
Photo by author, 1970s
Turning the car around the mansion of the former British East India Company manager
Photo by author, 1970s
In the 1970s, many of the colonial mansions were lost due to redevelopment.
Former Bank of England manager’s mansio
Photo by author, 1970s
Photo by author, 1970s
Photo by author, 1970s
British Colonial Mansion 2
I got to know the owner through an introduction from the manager of the Goodwood Park Hotel on Scotts Road. He owned this mansion with colonial origins. He wanted to repair and revive this aged building.
However, it was the middle of the oil crisis, and the price of building materials was soaring, so the project was cancelled. Overseas Chinese are quick to think things up, but also quick to retreat.
All of these buildings are similarly built, with a generous driveway in front of the entrance, a large hall for parties on the first floor, a large bedroom with a large veranda on the second floor, a garage for two or more cars attached to the main building, a servant’s room, and a security guard’s quarters.
The general layouts were similar.
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
The balcony on the second floor.
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
Colonial era servants’ residences.
It is a separate structure from the main building.
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
The wooden ceiling of the corridor connecting the main building of the colonial mansion with the servants’ quarters.
Photo by author, 1975
Photo by author, 1975
British Colonial Mansion 3
A mansion that existed on Nassim Road near the Japanese Embassy.
It has disappeared without a trace.
Photo by author, 1975
Soldiers’ barracks left by the former British Commonwealth Army・1
When British troops withdrew from the area east of Suez in 1968 and Singapore in 1971, a number of military facilities remained.
Some were demolished and cleared into vacant land or for building new condominiums, while others were preserved and repurposed as resort facilities.
Former Commonwealth soldiers’ quarters
Photo by author, 1971
As I was wandering along the asphalt road, something fell from a tree branch.
It was a chameleon. ! !
The color of the chameleon’s body on the asphalt changed from green to gray in a flash. I was surprised to see the colour change process of the chameleon for the first time.
Former Commonwealth soldiers’ quarters, Photo by author, 1971
Soldiers’ barracks left by the former British Commonwealth Army・2
Former Commonwealth soldiers’ barracks on Sentosa Island.
In 1971, due to the withdrawal of British troops, it was taken over by the Singapore government, and it was restored and used as a resort hotel.
Former Commonwealth soldiers’ quarters on Sentosa Island.
Photo by author, 1971
In 1971, it was taken over by the Singapore government due to the withdrawal of British troops.
