THEFULLERTONHERITAGE
TRAIL

EXPERIENCETHE SINGAPORE STORY IN
T H E F U L L E R T O N H E R I TAG E P R E C I N C T

Located in the heart of Singapore, The Fullerton Heritage is a historicprecinct on the Marina Bay waterfront. Since the days of Sir Thomas Stamford
Raffles who founded modern Singapore in 1819, The Fullerton Heritage
precinct has stood as a witness to the transformative changes fromSingapore’s humble beginnings to the cosmopolitan city it is today.
Our landmark destination consists of seven historic and new icons– The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore,
The Fullerton Waterboat House, One Fullerton, The Fullerton Pavilion,
Clifford Pier and Customs House.
Walk in the footsteps of our forefathers through our historic precinct today.

A Brief History of Singapore
Once a sleepy island, Singapore awoke to the bustle of trade and commerce when it grew
rapidly into a major port city after Raffles’ arrival. Travellers arrived to seek a new life andbusiness opportunities on the shores of Singapore, where The Fullerton Heritage precinct
is located today. On 9 August 1965, Singapore declared its independence as a nation under
the leadership of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, our founding prime minister.

At The Fullerton Heritage precinct, you are perfectly placed to immerse yourself
in history, culture, art and commerce, all within a delightful walk.
Discover the places of interest located around our precinct.

Clarke Quay and Robertson Quay were developed
later when trade increased dramatically. The
humble river was the lifeline of Singapore until the
1970s when the shipping trade moved to Keppel
Harbour. It was given a new lease of life after amassive clean-up in 1983.
Relive the old days and hop on a river taxi or enjoy
a cool drink at one of the conserved shophouses
along Boat Quay which now houses restaurants
and bars.

Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection,
Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

Singapore River andRafﬂes Landing Site
Stand at the Raffles Landing Site along theSingapore River, where Sir Stamford Raffles first
stepped on the island in 1819. Imagine what he saw– an ideal riverbank deep enough to be a port for a
trading outpost. This discovery sparked the birth ofmodern Singapore.
In the early days, ships had to sail past the river toreach the godowns and shophouses at Boat Quay.

Courtesy of National Gallery Singapore

National Gallery Singapore(City Hall and former Supreme
Court buildings)
Experience rich history with exciting modernity at
the City Hall and the former Supreme Court
buildings – reborn as the National Gallery
Singapore, a visual arts institution with a focus on
Southeast Asian and Singapore art.

City HallThe City Hall building, built between 1926 and1929, housed various government bodies before it
became home to the Singapore judiciary in 1987. It
is a venue marked by several momentous events,
including the declaration of Singapore's self-governance in 1959 and independence in 1965, as well as
the swearing-in of Singapore's prime ministers.

The former Supreme Court
The last Neoclassical building to be built in
Singapore in 1939, the former Supreme Court
building lends a stately presence and is said to beinspired by the Old Bailey courthouse in London.
Check out the symbols of law and order on its
façade and visit the exquisite Rotunda in the middleof the building – its detailed workmanship anddistinctive cornices are especially noteworthy.

Courtesy of Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall

Victoria Theatre & Victoria
Concert Hall
Did you know the grand old dames of Singapore's
performing arts scene are a complex of two
historic buildings connected by a clock tower and acommon corridor?
The Victoria Theatre was first built as a Town Hallwith a theatre in 1862, but soon became too small
to serve its function. To commemorate Queen
Victoria's death in 1901, a Memorial Hall was built
in 1905, next to the Town Hall; the façades unified
in the Palladian architectural style and a clock
tower erected to join the two buildings together.
Later, the Town Hall was renamed Victoria Theatre
and the Memorial Hall renamed the Victoria
Concert Hall. The Victoria Concert Hall is also thehome of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Interestingly, the clock in the tower required aclock winder to walk up 107 steps about once aweek, spending up to an hour winding the clock
manually. In 2010, the national monument
underwent a four-year refurbishment andthe redevelopment included an automatic
winding mechanism for the clock.

Courtesy of The Arts House

Old Parliament House(The Arts House)
The Old Parliament House is the oldest surviving
government building in Singapore. Built originally asa residence in 1827, it later housed the judiciary andcolonial government offices before being known as
the Parliament House when Singapore gained
independence. In 2003, it was converted to The
Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre.
Visit the former Parliament Chamber which has
been converted into a function room where
intimate performances are held.

Courtesy of Asian Civilisations Museum

Asian Civilisations Museum
History aficionados, don't miss the Asian Civilisations
Museum with its original Neoclassical architecture.
Known as one of the top Asian museums on Southeast
Asian culture, the museum tells stories of Asian
civilisations through its permanent collections wherevisitors can explore interactive spaces and participate
in fun activities.
The grand building was opened in 1865 as a court
house, and has been home to the Registry of Births &Deaths as well as the Singapore Mint. It became the
Empress Place Museum in 1989 before emerging in its
current incarnation in 2003.

The Fullerton Building –“A Monument Worthy of the City”
Built in 1928, this was a government building named
after the first governor of the Straits Settlements,
Robert Fullerton. It was situated at the mouth ofSingapore River at the site of the former Fort Fullerton(1825-1873), the first line of defence for Singapore.
The Fullerton Building once housed government
departments, the Singapore Club and the Chamber ofCommerce, but is most fondly remembered asSingapore's General Post Office. It was conserved
and renovated into The Fullerton Hotel Singapore,
which opened on 1 January 2001.

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Architecture
The Fullerton Building is a magnificent palatial,
Neoclassical structure. Commissioned as part of the
British colony’s centennial celebrations and designed by
Major P.H. Keys in 1920, the building has five façades,
each in the Doric order.
Head over to Fullerton Road to view the building's
most prominent east façade, designed to face theharbour and make a strong impression on travellers
arriving in Singapore in the early days.

General Post Ofﬁce (GPO)
In the days when there were no internet services andmobile phones, the GPO was essential for communication and trade. Many would recall walking through thelower levels of Fullerton Building where the GPO was
located. The basement was used for parcel sorting,while the first floor had postal
counters, telegraph rooms andletter sorting rooms.

Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection,
Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

D I D YO U K N OW ?
The Fullerton Heritage Gallery has an amazingcollection of photographs, maps, stamps and philatelicmaterials dating back to 1932. Visit the Gallery at level 1.

Post a letter through two of ourfunctioning red pillar post boxes
located at The Fullerton Hotel
Singapore. The red pillar postboxes were first introduced in
1873 and serve as a legacy to
the British colonial era.

A Government Building

Singapore Club

Besides the General Post Office, Fullerton Building
once housed different government departments. They
included the Ministry of Finance, Economic
Development Board, Inland Revenue Department,
Imports and Exports Department and the Marine
Office. Illustrious personalities who used to work in
the historic building include former President S.R.
Nathan who worked in the Marine Office in the 1950s
and former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who began
his career at the Ministry of Finance in the 1960s.

From 1928 to 1961, one-third of the building was
occupied by the Singapore Club. Established in
1862, this exclusive European club admitted mainly
the male high-level government officials and wealthy
merchants. Its presence in Fullerton Building wasquestioned as the building was built on public funds,
yet members of the lavish club represented a small
portion of the society. The Club, later known as the
Town Club, left the Fullerton Building in 1961. Today,
it is known as the Singapore Town Club.

DID YOU KNOW ?
As a tribute to government offices located in the
Fullerton Building, some of the meeting rooms at thebasement of The Fullerton Hotel Singapore are named
after them:• Inland Revenue Room – Inland Revenue Authority• TDB Room – Trade Development Board• GPO Room – General Post Office• EDB Room – Economic Development Board

D I D YO U K N OW ?
You don't have to be a club member to enjoy the privileges! Approach our Concierge to visit The Straits Room(level 4), which used to house the club's billiard room, andview its unique coffered ceiling – Singapore's only
barrel-vaulted example, designed by Italian sculptor
Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli (1888-1963).
Or visit the Town Restaurant, named after the Club, andsample Singaporean delicacies such as Fullerton’s
Hainanese Chicken Rice and Singapore Satay.

Mile Zero:
All Roads in Singapore Led to the GPO
The Fullerton Building was once the Mile Zero ofSingapore. All roads in Singapore used to stem fromthis point, a system that can trace its roots to the
Roman Empire.
Before the road system of modern-day Singapore
was introduced, people meant it quite literally when
they said they had reached a milestone. They used
to find their way across the islands with some helpof large stone markers found on roads. Standing
erect a mile, or about 1.6km apart, the milestones
were labelled with numbers and led people to bothrural and modern parts of the island.

Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection,
Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

The Fullerton Lighthouse
Situated atop the Fullerton Building was the Fullerton
Lighthouse, built in 1958 to replace the 103-year-old
Fort Canning Lighthouse. Its beacon guided theworld's mariners to the safety of the Singapore port
until it ceased operation in 1979, when it wasovershadowed by skyscrapers.
Today, it has been transformed into an event space
which offers panoramic views of the Singapore
skyline. The beacon which was removed during thebuilding's conservation project is now exhibited at
Harbourfront Towers.
D ID YOU KNOW?
After it was decommissioned, the premise around theLighthouse housed the government canteen, named“Spartan”. Former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong often
went there for lunch when working at the Ministry of
Finance.

Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection,
Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

Founding Prime Ministerat the Fullerton SquareIn the 1960s to 1980s, many of the rallies by Singapore's
People’s Action Party (PAP) often took place at the
Fullerton Square during lunchtime to attract the office
crowd. The late founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew
gave speeches to hundreds of “White on White”
supporters at a podium, through rain or shine.
D I D YO U K N OW ?
“White on White” refers to the attire of PAP supporters: white
shirts and white trousers. It symbolises PAP’s ideals of clean
governance: a white uniform, once smudged, is difficult tomake clean again.

The Foundation Stone
Laid by Singapore's first President Yusof Bin Ishak in
1970, the Foundation Stone was originally named“The Foundation Stone of the Monument of the Early
Founders of Singapore”. It was erected as a keynotememorial by the Alumni International Singapore tocelebrate the achievement of our forefathers. Later,
plans to build the memorial
were scrapped and theFoundation Stone itself
became the memorial.
Today, you can locate thememorial
outside Town
Restaurant at The Fullerton
Hotel Singapore.

East Garden Gallery
Embark on an artistic journey or bring home a pieceof art with you at the East Garden Gallery (level 1), a
dedicated stage for rotating exhibitions by talented
international and local artists on selected months ofthe year.

THE FULLERTON WATERBOAT HOUSEThe Fullerton Waterboat House
Designed in 1940s by Swan & Maclaren for Hammer& Company, the building features a unique Art Decostyle with an elegant façade and curved balconies.
Once tasked to supply water to ships anchoredoffshore, the building was gazetted for conservation in2002 and awarded the Architectural Heritage Awardin 2005 for the restoration works, which included therecovery of its original grey Shanghai plaster finish andan addition of a new glass annex.

Wong Kwan Collection, Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore

ONE FULLERTONOne Fullerton
A graceful waterfront development blessed withstunning vistas of Marina Bay developments, theall-day dining and lifestyle destination is directly
adjacent to the well-recognised historic Merlion
Park, home to the Merlion.

Today, it has evolved into a classy dining venue andfaces the Fullerton Hairpin (Turn 13) of the Singapore
Formula One Grand Prix Race Circuit.

The Merlion
A national icon, the Merlion’s lion head refers
to an ancient myth where a Palembang prince
reportedly encountered a lion when he first
stepped on the shores of Temasek, renaming
this island Singapura (“Lion City” in Sanskrit);
its body of a fish refers to Singapore being aport city. This 8.6-metre-tall statue wassculpted by Lim Nang Seng and unveiled bySingapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan
Yew in 1972.

Try our signature Merlion Cocktail
available at The Fullerton Hotel
Singapore and The Fullerton Bay Hotel
Singapore or try making your own!

CLIFFORD PIER

Courtesy of Urban Redevelopment Authority

Clifford Pier
Opened on 3 June 1933, Clifford Pier was oncethe major landing point for immigrants and sea
passengers arriving in Singapore. Althoughnamed after Sir Hugh Clifford, Governor of theStraits Settlements (1927-1929), it is morecommonly known as the Red Lantern Pier,because red oil lamps were hung at the pier toguide seafarers ashore. Clifford Pier closed in2006 and has been restored as The Clifford Pier,a sophisticated event venue at The Fullerton Bay
Hotel Singapore.

THE FULLERTON PAVILION

Architecture and Conservation
Clifford Pier was an engineering featof its time with its 10 reinforced
concrete arch trusses measuring 36
feet high and spanning 60 feet across,resulting in a column-free space thatfacilitated passenger traffic flow. Many
elements within Clifford Pier havebeen conserved and restored to its
former glory. Find out more about therestoration works from the plaqueslocated within the perimeters ofClifford Pier.

The Fullerton Pavilion
The Fullerton Pavilion is a first-of-its-kind
floating glass dome structure set on Marina
Bay, a design masterpiece complete with apublic rooftop observation deck. It was built
beside the old Finger Pier – the extension
dock of the old Clifford Pier.

THE FULLERTON BAY HOTEL SINGAPOREThe Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore
Built entirely on water, The Fullerton Bay Hotel
Singapore makes a striking impression with its
breathtaking architecture, award-winning service
and glamorous interiors by Asian designers. The
form of the building is shaped in response to theflanking Clifford Pier and Customs Housebuildings. Experience the transition from past topresent as you enter the lobby within the historic
Clifford Pier, before proceeding through acontemporary linkway with splendid views to thebay, and finally arriving at the voluminous
reception atrium in the newly constructedjewel-shaped hotel building.

The Landing Point
The Landing Point is one of the dining venues at
The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, named after
Clifford Pier which was the main landing point in
Singapore for visitors and immigrants from 1933
to 2006. Before air travel became popular, mosttravellers and immigrants arrived at Singapore via
Clifford Pier. During the pier’s later years ofoperation, it was used by locals to travel tooff-shore islands like Kusu Island for vacations andpilgrimages via bumboats.

CUSTOMS HOUSE

Customs House

Courtesy of Urban Redevelopment Authority

Integral to the safety of Singapore's harbour,
Customs House (formerly known as Customs
Harbour Branch Building) was home to the harbour
division of the Singapore Customs Police. It washere where customs officers kept a round-the-clock
vigil from the 23 metre-high control tower, watchingout for illegal and smuggling activities. Raids on thehigh seas, seizures of illegal goods and encounterswith pirates were all part of the colourful stories
that once took place on the waters. It ceased
operation in 2016 and was restored to become partof The Fullerton Heritage precinct, featuring uniquedining concepts.

C O M P L I M E N TA RY
H E R I TAG E G U I D E D T O U R S

To present the heritage significance of our precinct, The Fullerton Heritage
conducts guided heritage tours weekly. To join the tour, approach our Concierge
at The Fullerton Hotel Singapore or The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, or
register on our website.

The Fullerton Bay Hotel’s Concierge(65) 6597 5312
fbh.concierge@fullertonhotels.com

The Fullerton Hotel’s Concierge(65) 6877 8078
tfs.concierge@fullertonhotels.com

F U L L E RTO N H OT E L S . C O M
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