12) Katong 112

Katong (112 Katong) 
Address: 112 East Coast Road # 02-12, 428802  

Picture: Heritage Board on "History of Katong and Joo Chiat"

This was not our first stop! However, what this place has to offer is an overview on the history of Katong/Joo Chiat! From the board alone, we gained insights to the development of Katong and how the name Joo Chiat came about!

The Katong area has a very rich history behind it’s development. We would believe that part and parcel of why this place was heavily retained as a heritage site was due to the multi-cultural heritage. Moreover, it would seem that the history behind Joo Chiat's development leaves a very prosperous impression. Katong began in the 1820s as an area given to estate owners for development. Due to the sandy nature of the soil, the area was suitable for coconut plantations. As such, the whole area along Geylang river to Siglap road were covered by coconut plantations. Few of the owners in the area included colonial governors, Francis Bernard (one the renowned colonial governor), Sir Jose d’Almeida (Consul General of the Straits settlement) and so on. This particular history of Joo Chiat alone seem to show its attractiveness towards important figures of those times.

In addition, back then, the people who lived in Joo Chiat included wealthy people of various races (europeans, arabs, chinese) who were merchants migrated there due to the economical prospects of Singapore. The people who resided there ranged from the rich to humble fishermen and farmers. As we can see, even during the colonial days, this area of Singapore has attracted a variety of racial groups such as the Chinese, Malays and even the Indians. The immigration of foreigners did not stop here as well. Due to the prosperity of Singapore, there was an influx of immigrants which led to the expansion of the lands in katong. One of the few key groups of people who resided there were the peranakans and the eurasians. As such, this piece of history showed the multi racial and cultural aspect of Joo Chiat's heritage.

Further research showed that the plantations were removed for buildings such as Catholic churches and schools which catered to the Eurasians. It is also then when the peranakans settled in Joo Chiat, thus, the erection of Peranakan-style shophouses such as those along Koon Seng Road (which will be looked at later on).

Picture: Joo Chiat Road 1984.

Adapted from: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/pictures/Details/aa5c15a1-eaf9-404a-bd2b-b3ed6fba2f97

Chew Joo chiat was a trader who became a prosperous landowner and the philanthropist owned large portions of land in katong. This man was known as the ‘King of Katong’ and it was said that he paved the a road which led from Geylang Serai to the Confederate Estate Road, which is later on named after him. Because of what he did, many other areas of Katong was named after him as well. Therefore, as we can see, this place also signified Singapore’s prosperity during the colonial days.

After the war, reclamation of land was made along the east coast for development of east coast park, HDBs in marine parade area as well. Marine parade is where the shorelines used to be.

Significant buildings or infrastructures such as the Sri Vinayagar Kalamandapam temple and the Kuan Im Tng temple were also retained as landmarks even till today.

All in all, it would seem that the ideal education that this heritage ought to leave for Singaporeans is the aspect of prosperity and multiculturalism. It portrays a lot on Singapore's success as a prosperous country which attracted many important figures, such as Chew Joo Chiat, and foreigners to reside here. The landmarks that were kept were the religious buildings within the area, which seem to signify Singapore's unity in culture since the colonial days. This form of unity is the essence of what Singapore is about, the idea of multiculturalism is greatly portrayed through this portion of the history.

References

Chua Alvin, “Joo Chiat,” National Library Board Singapore, 2004, http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_946__2008-11-13.html.