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Apr 21, 2011

Tanjong Pagar - Blog the Walk Further On

"White House" in Singapore.
Customs House (Former)
Maxwell Road
Then: Built in 1932, Customs & Excise Department and Film Censors Board till 1989. Subsequently, used as office space and renamed White House.
Now: Maxwell Chambers - Singapore's new international arbitration centre.
Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Former Maxwell Road Post Office (beside the 'White House'. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Former Maxwell Road Customs & Excise Office. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Maxwell Road Traffic Police HQ. The ROV Driving Test conducted here in the 1970s. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAV).

Another view of the Maxwell Road Traffic Police HQ, Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The former Gan Eng Seng Secondary School, now demolished. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Former Tanjong Pagar Police Station. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Description: Tanjong Pagar Police Station, one of the oldest police stations in Singapore, is being demolished to give way for future development.
Date: 19/9/1972.
Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Panoramic view of Tanjong Pagar area. Photo Credit: Mr Lim Lian Hai

The aerial view of the former Metropole Theatre. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)


Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)


Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Restoration work in progress.
Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The same lane in Tanjong Pagar once upon a time. Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)

The transformation of buildings at Peck Seah Street. Same place. Different times.

Can you spot the difference?

Source: National Archives of Singapore (NAS)


In conclusion of this "walk the blog" project diary, here's the "blog for the thoughts" to wrap up the blog topics on Tanjong Pagar below:

1. 3D Blog - Tanjong Pagar (Then and Now).
2. Tanjong Pagar - Blog the Walk
3. Tanjong Pagar - Blog the Walk Further On

The night photos of the Jinrickshaw Station and Maxwell Road Food Centre were taken on March 25, 2011.

One sunny morning on April 1, 2011, I set out the destination at Tanjong Pagar with a backpack and a digital camera on non-stop mode. The man and the machine.

It was an adventure and experience in self-discovery, travelling alone on a photo-shoot mission...point and shoot, point and shoot. Just like a fishing trip out to sea. Total catch at the end the day of over 300 shoots, but many rejects. And many more nook and corners of this sentimental place have not been covered on this blog.

With the tips and help of blogger friends, Google map route guide and some preparation groundwork from National Archives of Singapore (NAS) from PICAS for reference, the photo-shoot program was planned smoothly.

The focus were on Jinrickshaw Station, Maxwell Road Food Centre and Maxwell Road Outpatient Clinic.

Some three weeks were spent sorting and selecting the 3 blog topic categoies, matching the old and the new photos of similar locations wherever available.

While walking, snapping and thinking as a multitask function was as difficult as eating and talking simultaneously. I often get my throat choked. Couldn't concentrate.

While sorting out the photos, I could photoshop and refine the photos, the "mind-travelling" penetrate deeper into the details of the memories.

On this journey, I observed the interesting backlanes, spiral staircases, the walls cloaked with air-conditioner compressor/condenser outdoor units installed for every home and every office in the buildings. Singapore the air-conditioned city.

The photo capture of a backlane barber the behind Club Street was a surprise find.

This was a nostalgic trip down memory lanes on Tanjong Pagar. Not just a sight-seeing tour. Its a walk on the blog to revive memories and to share with like-minded friends of valuable heritage places of the past of Singapore and for posterity purposes.

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13 Comments:

Blogger Lam Chun See said...

I like that NAS aerial photo showing the Metropole. I recognize the 2 tall buildings under construction. They are CPF and International Building.

In the early 70's, I used to study at the Prince Edward Campus and travelled along Shenton Way practically everyday. I saw these sky scrapers come up one by one and we could recognize each one of them; IBM, UIC, DBS, SIA etc. Now there are so many of them, I don't know which is which :(

April 21, 2011 at 10:47 PM  
Blogger Lam Chun See said...

Sorry. It's International Plaza.

April 21, 2011 at 11:25 PM  
Blogger Thimbuktu said...

Thanks Chun See. The Metropole Theatre you mentioned is now the Fairfield Methodist Church is its original architecture and building design.

The names of the buildings along Shenton Way you could still remember well, but the entire landscrape has completely changed and new buildings are popping up every few years...getting them taller due to increasing properties values!

April 21, 2011 at 11:36 PM  
Blogger chinatownboy said...

Great job! Keep on walking, good for the heart too! (^^) And of course, keep em coming!

Just yesterday, I was walking in the neighbourhood looking for clan associations.

April 23, 2011 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger Lam Chun See said...

I cannot figure out from your old photo where was the Tanjong Pagar Police Station?

April 23, 2011 at 11:10 PM  
Blogger lim said...

Thanks for the photo trip through Tanjong Pagar. This Easter, we decided to have our breakfast at the Maxwell Food Centre. It was a hot sunny morning and the place around Tanjong Pagar really looked so much nicer under the bright sun, but it was very humid. I managed to grab a quick pano shot of the Metropole and the Jinrickshaw station - http://www.pbase.com/image/134143152

April 23, 2011 at 11:34 PM  
Blogger Thimbuktu said...

Thanks Chun See. Another PICAS photo dated 19/9/1972 of the Tanjong Pagar Police Station under demolition as updated to the blog shows the location with detailed description.

April 24, 2011 at 7:16 AM  
Blogger Thimbuktu said...

Many thanks to Victor for your encouragement to cheer me on to keep blogging. You are my inspiration and mentor. Cheers!

April 24, 2011 at 7:21 AM  
Blogger Thimbuktu said...

What a wonderful pano shot of both the Metropole Theatre and the Jinrickshaw Station from best angle. I couldn't do it with my digital camera with standard features. Thank you very much for sharing us here. May I add to this blog with your kind courtesy? Best Regards.

April 24, 2011 at 7:28 AM  
Blogger FL said...

The b & w photo of Tg Pagar Police Station reminded me of my primary schooldays at Keppel Pri School at Cantonment Rd. My brother, sisters & I walked to school and home everyday passing the police station. We actually walked up the front steps of the police station and along the concrete pavement. My family was staying in a kampong somewhere far behind the police station. Thanks for the photo which reminisces my childhood days !

April 25, 2011 at 12:30 AM  
Blogger Thimbuktu said...

Thank you FL. Appreciate your sharing the remembrance of Tanjong Pagar Police Station which Chun See enquired about this location.

Although this blog is not an academic research for detail description of old places of Singapore, those who grew up in their places with nostalgic memories will benefit everyone. Thank you, FL. You are welcome to post to the blog. Best Regards. Thimbuktu

April 25, 2011 at 8:27 AM  
Blogger lim said...

No problem sharing my photo. I always have a heart for nostalgic old places than modern skyscrapers.

April 26, 2011 at 6:10 PM  
Blogger Thimbuktu said...

Thank you lim (Mr Lim Lian Hai) for courtesy of your consent to add this photo to the blog, including the link to your pbase marvellous collections. Cheers!

April 26, 2011 at 10:53 PM  

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