Tanjong Pagar
Tanjong Pagar | |
---|---|
Subzone of Jawi) | |
• Tamil | தஞ்சோங் பகார் Tañcōṅ Pakār (Transliteration) |
Government | |
• Mayor | Central Singapore CDC
|
• Members of Parliament | Jalan Besar GRC
Tanjong Pagar GRC |
Tanjong Pagar (
The name comes from the Malay language, which means "cape of stakes". It is said that the area was once covered with mangroves, and the stakes were used by fishermen to mark their fishing boundaries, as it was a fishing village. Today, the district is a vibrant mix of old and new buildings, which creates an interesting contrast. One of the most iconic landmarks in Tanjong Pagar is the
Notable landmarks in Tanjong Pagar also include the
In addition to its cultural and architectural landmarks, Tanjong Pagar is also a foodie's paradise.
History
The area of what Tanjong Pagar is now was said to be initially a fishing village called Salinter.[5]
From the 1600s, Tanjong Pagar, located between the
Tanjong Pagar (
According to the Malay Annals, the villages along the coast of Singapore was constantly attacked by shoals of swordfish.[5] The Sri Maharajah, on the advice of a boy, Hang Nadim, built a defensive structure of banana stems along the coastal side of the villages which trapped the swordfishes as they attacked the villages.[5]
During the 1820s, a man who had unsuccessfully stabbed William Farquhar with a kris, Sayid Yasin, had his corpse placed in chains in an iron cage and exhibited publicly at Tanjong Malang for a fortnight as punishment for the stabbing. His grave later became a shrine and a place of pilgrimage for many years.[6][7]
In the 1850s, when shipping activities increased, the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company was formed in 1864 along with wharves being built along the coast.
Tanjong Pagar Road is known as tan jiong pa kat in Hokkien (
Points of interest
Tras Street
The street name "Tras Street" dates from an 1898 municipal resolution to "use names of rivers and districts in the Malay Peninsula as being better adapted to the purpose [of naming streets] than the names of persons or families."[citation needed]
Tras Street today is a thriving night spot featuring many pubs, clubs and KTV bars.
Cantonment Road
Cantonment Road got its name from the contingent of Indian
The local Cantonese had another name for Cantonment Road. They called it Ba Suo Wei, meaning "end of Bukit Pasoh".[8]
Outram Road, which used to be part of Cantonment Road, only became a separate thoroughfare in 1853. The old Chinese name for Outram was Si Pai Po, meaning "sepoy's field", referring to the former sepoy presence in the area during colonial days.
Duxton Hill
Dr J.W. Montgomerie, the first owner of Duxton Hill, cultivated
By the 1890s, the developers had built two- and three-storey shophouses in Duxton Hill and the more affluent Chinese moved to the area.
Tanjong Pagar Plaza
Along the stretch of Tanjong Pagar Road, there is a semi-circle portion of road where it used to be called Cheng Cheok Street.
As the street is the shape of a semi-circle and both ends connected to Tanjong Pagar Road,[9] it was eventually renamed as part of Tanjong Pagar Road. On this stretch, there used to be pre-war shophouses before it was demolished and Tanjong Pagar Plaza, a commercial complex, was built over the original site.[5]
Railway transport
The Malayan railway company (Keretapi Tanah Melayu) ran trains to a terminal railway station here. These trains served other parts of the Malay Peninsula.
The station ceased operations on 1 July 2011. KTM's southern terminus is now at the Woodlands Train Checkpoint near the causeway. The Singaporean government has conserved the Tanjong Pagar railway station building and has integrated it into newer developments on the site, including as a museum as well as being the site of Cantonment MRT station.[1]
Amoy Food Centre
Amoy Street Food Centre is a bustling hawker centre in the area which houses Michelin Bib Gourmand awardees.
Maxwell Food Centre
The Maxwell Food Centre dates back to pre-war days as a fresh food market and food centre. In 1986, it was converted into a food centre, housing hawkers from the vicinity. The present existing hawker centre was renovated in 2001. Stallholders are mainly those from the essentially Cantonese neighbourhood, with many from the famed food street, China Street. A wide variety of authentic local favourites are available at Maxwell Food Centre, with slight Cantonese bent. Popular dishes include hum chim peng (a crusty fried pancake), ngor hiong or five spices meat roll of Singaporean Hokkien origin, and herbal broths made from home-brewed recipes.[10]
Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre
The Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre (TAPAC) housed arts full-time and part-time groups of different cultural traditions and art disciplines, and had the distinction of being the first property to be acquired under the
Little Korea
Tanjong Pagar has been greatly influenced by Korean culture in recent years and has earned the nickname of Little Korea and Koreatown. As many as 15 Korean food outlets have sprung up in a 300 m stretch of Tanjong Pagar Road near Duxton Hill over the last few years. Apart from Korean eateries, there are also many wedding boutiques along Tanjong Pagar Road and at least three wedding boutiques there offer Korean-themed wedding photography.[4]
AIA Tanjong Pagar
AIA Tanjong Pagar Building, built in 1920, recently restored to former glory. It is located at the junction between Neil Road and Keong Saik Road. AIA Tanjong Pagar Building houses the "American Insurance Agency".[12]
Tanjong Pagar Centre (Guoco Tower)
The Tanjong Pagar Centre was completed in 2016 and is the tallest building in Singapore.[13]
Politics
Currently, the entire place is divided between Tanjong Pagar GRC and Jalan Besar GRC. Both of them are under the People's Action Party (PAP).
The western part of Tanjong Pagar is mainly located in the Tanjong Pagar-Tiong Bahru division of
The eastern half of the area is also located in the Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng division of Jalan Besar GRC whose MP is Josephine Teo since 2020, replacing Lily Neo. It was part of Tanjong Pagar GRC from 2011 to 2015.
In media
- Last Train from Tanjong Pagar, 2014. Epigram Books (Singapore)
- Singapore Shophouse Walks: Chinatown, Blair Plain, Duxton Hill, Tanjong Pagar. Kildi Photo (Singapore)
References
- ^ a b "Work to preserve Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on track". The Straits Times. 30 March 2018. Archived from the original on 7 April 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
- ^ "Explore the best of Tanjong Pagar: Great food, aesthetic cafes and buzzing bars to hit up". Honeycombers Singapore. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2022 Bib Gourmand Selection". MICHELIN Guide. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b Kumamonjeng (5 October 2017). "Tanjong Pagar also known as Little Korean Town in Singapore!". ThinkerTen. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Savage 2013, p. 863-864.
- ^ Philippart, John (1823). The East India Military Calendar: Containing the Services of General and Field Officers of the Indian Army. Vol. 2. London: Kingsbury, Parbury and Allen. p. 561. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
- ^ "The British Base and Prison on the Island of Singapore".
- ^ Savage 2013, p. 144.
- ^ a b c d Savage 2013, p. 166.
- ^ "Maxwell Food Centre". Chinatown Singapore. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
- ^ "Telok Ayer Performing Arts Centre, wall mural : general view [1] | PictureSG". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ "AIA Tanjong Pagar | PictureSG". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Whang, Rennie (14 January 2016). "Tanjong Pagar Centre: New tallest building in Singapore after 20 years". The Straits Times.
- ISBN 978-981-07-6920-8.
- ISBN 978-981-14-3640-6.
Works cited
- Savage, Victor R. (2013). Singapore street names : a study of toponymics. Brenda S. A. Yeoh (Updated and expanded ed.). Singapore. )
External links
- National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3