Introduction

The Civic District (1)

On a glorious Thursday afternoon, a group of industrious students (which is us, in case you're wondering) embarked on a History Heritage Trail after school. Off to The Civic District we went! Being meticulous students, we wrote down our findings and reflections after exploring each site of the trail. This blog is evidence of our "blood, sweat and tears" gained from the trip.

In order to facilitate your understanding of the trip, we have so kindly attached a map of The Civic District Trail 1 which shows the location of the sites covered in the trail.  Most of the 17 locations in the trail (if not all) have been gazetted by the National Heritage Board. Our group explored all 17 locations in 4 hours (that's right) and decided to present to you what we felt was the best and most interesting 15 locations.

Sites of The Civic District Trail 1

In each location, we will explore some background information, some trivia which we have picked up during the trip (which we thought would be interesting) and some reflections about each area. We also uploaded some pictures to complement the post, as we share our observations of each site and the joy of going through the heritage as a group. There will also be a culmination of individual reflections about Singapore History and Cultural Heritage insights after the learning trip.

The Civil District

Esplanade Park

Many might not notice Esplanade Park but treat it as just another ordinary green space in downtown Singapore. Built in 1943 on a plot of reclaimed land, it houses many of the monuments we visited on our trail, including the Cenotaph, the Tan Kim Seng Fountain, the Indian National Army Marker and the Lim Bo Seng Memorial.

Anderson Bridge at the southern end of Esplanade Park, taken on Queen Elizabeth Walk

Remembering Old Makan Places

The Satay Club, an open-air food centre with many hawkers selling satay, was located at the end of Esplanade Park on Queen Elizabeth Walk. Open from sunset till early morning, it was a favourite haunt for people yearning for a taste of one of Singapore's local delicacies, remembered most for the smoke ballooning from the charcoal, the flames fanned with a straw fan, the scent of cooked meat that gets your taste buds going, and not forgetting the satay man toiling and touting away. Situated under big, old trees in a quiet corner of town, the Satay Club's charming, relaxed ambience flavoured with a delightful dose of local aroma made the Satay Club one of the most fondly remembered local food centres. In 1995, however, it was demolished to make way for the Esplanade Theatres and the Nicoll Highway extension.

Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

One of my English professors has taught me one important lesson: do not just see what is there, see also what is not there. The Esplanade Park has witnessed so many changes, that what we see today is not the full picture. It is merely a snapshot caught in a short span of time, and it most certainly would be different from the snapshots of our fathers, and the snapshots of our sons. These snapshots, far more than being just a source of nostalgia and memory, reminds us of the critical need to live in the moment and realise that nothing is set in stone. (Which is one reason why photography is very close to my heart.)

Taking a wider lens and considering the heritage of Singapore, it is plausible to ask just how much heritage we can afford to retain, and how much simply has to go in the name of progress and pragmatism. Humans have short-term memories - not in a medical sense, but an existential sense. We are temporal in memory, myopic in perception, selective in remembering, and constrained in retelling the stories. (This is perhaps why some simply don't care about history.) It might be wonderful to conserve an archaic way of life for the sake of keeping a history alive, but we know that is impossible. So since by no means can we keep everything the same, as a nation and as an individual we ought to ask: what is really worth keeping?

Dalhousie Obelisk

Dalhousie Obelisk

The Dalhousie Obelisk, located near the Asian Civilisations Museum and Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, was built to commemorate the visit of the Marquis of Dalhousie, Governer-General of India (1848 to 1856) in February 1850. Originally located near the Dalhousie Pier at the mouth of the Singapore River, it was moved to its present location in 1891 due to land reclamation works that rendered the pier obsolete.

What is an Obelisk

An obelisk is a tall, narrow stone monument that tapers slightly as it ascends and ends with a pyramid at the top. It was first conceived and erected by the ancient Egyptians and has been adapted by many other cultures in their architecture.

Trivia

The architect of Dalhousie Obelisk, John Turnbull Thomson, also designed and built the Horsburgh Lighthouse on Pedra Branca.

The Significance of the Dalhousie Obelisk

As seen from the image above the monument was a reminder to all traders and officials that free trade was what led to the rise of Singapore as a trade settlement, and was to be the foundation of the future successes of Singapore. Its strategic location at the mouth of the Singapore River was to emphasise that message.

The Dalhousie Obelisk's Message For Us Today

I thought about what the text said: "the wisdom of liberating commerce from all restraints" is what "[Singapore's] future prosperity must ever be identified". It supports what we call "globalisation" today. So when I read this statement, several questions popped up: to what extent does it hold true for Singapore today? Should globalisation still be one of the fundamental principles on which our economy is built upon? Given the volatility and unpredictability of the modern world, what are some cautions or consequences of being heavily plugged in to the rest of the world? How are we to manage the influx of foreign people and influences (and the exportation of Singaporeans and Singapore's influences) that inevitably modify our already malleable sense of nationhood and identity? And this would certainly beg the question about our identity: what does it mean to be a Singaporean? I think these questions deserve some attention from Singaporeans of all generations, and an understanding of our past can inform us better in navigating the future.