Queenstown, Singapore

Last updated

Queenstown
Planning Area and HDB Town
Other transcription(s)
 •  Chinese 女皇镇
 •  Malay Queenstown
 •  Tamil குவீன்ஸ்டவுன்
Sandcrawler CX2-1 Singapore, 2.jpg
NUS, University Cultural Centre 6, Nov 06.JPG
Haw Par Villa 11, Nov 06.JPG
Ghim Moh night panorama, Singapore - 20110101.jpg
HDBFlats-Queensway-Singapore-20090306.jpg
KentRidgePark-sign-Singapore-20070809.jpg
From top to bottom: The Sandcrawler at One North, University Cultural Centre at the Kent Ridge campus of the National University of Singapore, Haw Par Villa, Panoramic view of Ghim Moh at night, HDB flats along Queensway, Kent Ridge Park.
Queenstown, Singapore
Location of Queenstown in Singapore
Queenstown in Central Region, Singapore.svg
Location in Central Region
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Queenstown
  Queenstown in    Singapore
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Queenstown
Queenstown (Asia)
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Queenstown
Queenstown (Earth)
Coordinates: 1°17′39″N103°47′10.06″E / 1.29417°N 103.7861278°E / 1.29417; 103.7861278
CountryFlag of Singapore.svg  Singapore
Region Central Region
CDCs
Town councils
  • Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council
  • Tanjong Pagar Town Council
  • West Coast Town Council
Constituencies
Government
 • MayorsCentral Singapore CDC

North West CDC

South West CDC

 • Members of ParliamentHolland-Bukit Timah GRC

Tanjong Pagar GRC

West Coast GRC

Area
[1] [2]
 • Total20.43 km2 (7.89 sq mi)
 • Residential2.10 km2 (0.81 sq mi)
Population
 (2020) [1] [2] [3]
 • Total95,930
 • Density4,700/km2 (12,000/sq mi)
Postal districts
3, 5
Dwelling units30,546
Projected ultimate60,000

Queenstown is a planning area and satellite residential town situated on the south-westernmost fringe of the Central Region of Singapore. It borders Bukit Timah to the north, Tanglin to the northeast, Bukit Merah to the east and southeast, as well as Clementi to the northwest and west. Its southern and southwesternmost limits are bounded by the Pandan Strait. [4] [5]

Contents

Developed by the Singapore Improvement Trust in the 1950s and subsequently by the Housing and Development Board in the 1960s, Queenstown was the first satellite town to be built in the country. Most apartments within the township consists of simple one, two, or three-room flats, typically in low-rise, walk-up blocks. Major development work was carried out during the first Five-Year Building Programme between 1960 and 1965. A total of 19,372 dwelling units were constructed between 1952 and 1968. [6]

The headquarters of Grab, Razer and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) are located in Queenstown.

Etymology

Queenstown was named after Queen Elizabeth II to mark Her Majesty’s coronation in 1953. The area was previously known by the Mandarin Chinese name Wu-wei-gang (Wade Giles: Wu-wei-kang), or in Hokkien as Boh Beh Kang. [7] The arterial road Queensway was officially named in 1954.

History

Previously, the area which Queenstown currently occupies was a large swampy valley with a channel running through in a southeastern direction. On either side of this agricultural area were hills – feng xing and feng ling. [8] The former was a rubber plantation and the latter, a cemetery also known as boh beh kang. [8] The village in the area, with mainly Hokkien and Teochew-speaking dwellers was also the area was inhabited by hundreds of people in attap-roofed huts, cultivating vegetables, growing fruits and rearing pigs and chickens. [8] Buller Camp, a British military camp, was also set up there until 1953 when it was cleared for the new housing estate. [6]

During World War II, Pasir Panjang Ridge became a battleground during the Japanese Invasion of Singapore, where a fierce battle was fought between the defending Malay Regiment and the Japanese troops in February 1942. Despite its valiant efforts to defend Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill in Malay), a key strategic defence position, the Malay Regiment was eventually defeated as it was greatly outnumbered. In 2002, a war museum was opened in Bukit Chandu to commemorate the Battle of Pasir Panjang.

In 1947, the Housing Committee of Singapore highlighted the problem of inadequate housing in Singapore. The report proposed the decentralisation of the population away from the city with the building of self-contained residential areas in the suburbs. This proposal was believed to be an influence of the New town movements in post-war Britain.

The area was subsequently chosen by Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) as a site for housing development due to its proximity to the successful first public housing scheme in Tiong Bahru. Plans for the development of the area were first announced to the general public on 27 September 1953, with construction of Queenstown's first estate, Princess Margaret Estate (named after HM Elizabeth II's younger sister) having already begun last in July last year. [9] By late 1953, a preliminary batch of 3-room flats was ready for occupation. By 1956, work on the Princess Margaret Estate (later shortened to Princess Estate) had more than 1,000 flats comprising one, two and three-room units and 68 terrace houses. A ceremony was held in October that year for Forfar House, a 14-storey block which was a prominent landmark in those days as it was the tallest HDB flat at that point of time.

The area continued to develop as a self-contained community. Some of the facilities and amenities developed included the Town Centre and the Swimming and Sports Complex. The former was fully completed in 1969 with three cinemas and a variety of outlets including an emporium, a fresh food market, a maternity and child health centre, a bowling alley and a nightclub cum restaurant. The swimming complex was completed in August 1970.

In the 1970s, the success of the new town led to the development of Buona Vista and Holland Village, using the older neighbourhoods of Queenstown as a model. However, by the 1980s, the area had become a mature estate with a higher proportion of senior citizens residing in the area than elsewhere, and a gradual migration of the younger generation into other HDB new towns.

Geography

Alexandra Road, where the boundary between the towns of Bukit Merah and Queenstown meet. Beyond the lane to the left is Alexendra Hill in Bukit Merah while the area beyond the right lane is located in Queensway, Queenstown. The Alexandra outlet of IKEA can be seen in the distance Alexandra Road Singapore.JPG
Alexandra Road, where the boundary between the towns of Bukit Merah and Queenstown meet. Beyond the lane to the left is Alexendra Hill in Bukit Merah while the area beyond the right lane is located in Queensway, Queenstown. The Alexandra outlet of IKEA can be seen in the distance
Aerial panorama of West Coast Park in 2016 Aerial panorama of West Coast Park, shot 2016.jpg
Aerial panorama of West Coast Park in 2016

Queenstown is bounded by the Ulu Pandan Canal, Ghim Moh Housing Estate and the former Tanglin Camp area to the north, Alexandra Road to the east, Clementi Road to the west and the sea to the south. It covers an area of approximately 2,188 ha. [10] The total population (1990 census) is 126,071 with 31,131 housing units. [11] It consists of 16 subzones, namely Ghim Moh, Holland Drive, Commonwealth, Tanglin Halt, Margaret Drive, Mei Chin, Queensway, Portsdown, Buona Vista, Singapore Polytechnic, Dover, National University, Kent Ridge, Pasir Panjang, Pasir Panjang II, and the Port.

Pasir Panjang lies to the south of Queenstown (Pasir Panjang in Malay means "long sandy beach"). The coastline was dotted with Malay villages, the main economic activities being fishing and small-scale agriculture. Only after the war, did the development of the area begin, with bungalows along the coastline being built in the 1950s. Today, Pasir Panjang is a popular recreational area for sea sports and attractions such as the Haw Par Villa.

Main housing estates

Forfar Heights Queenstown hdb.jpg
Forfar Heights

The main housing areas within Queenstown include:

Forfar Heights

Forfar House, or Block 39, was built in 1956 by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) as a 14-storey block (which at that time was the tallest residential building in Singapore, holding the record until the building of a 20-story block at Selegie in 1963). Also known as Chap Si Lao, it was an early part of the mixed height development of the area. The new blocks at Forfar Heights are featured with blue glazing and blue floodlights at the roofline, reminiscent of the early days, where many units were characterised by the blue glass in their windows, by which the district was acquired its Hokkien name Lam Po Lay.

Block 39, Forfar Square, had 106 three-room-flats, four shops, and an eating house, until it was demolished in the early 2000s together with the surrounding SIT blocks under the Selective en bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). Currently, the new Forfar Heights consists of two 40-storey blocks (Blk 48, 52) and three 30-storey blocks (Blk 49–51). Residency was offered to residents from the old Forfar House and Blocks 6A & 6B Margaret Drive in 1996, and residents from Block 172–175 Stirling Road [12] & Block 96 Margaret Drive in 2001. The new blocks were launched on Tree Planting Day 2005 and SERS Completion Ceremony on 6 November 2005 with guest of honour, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

The name for Forfar Heights had its origin from Forfar Square, which like most Queenstown street names, was connected to the British Royal Family. The name Forfar comes from The Royal Burgh of Forfar, a Scottish town near the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. [note 1]

Demographics

Being the first satellite HDB town in Singapore, Queenstown has one of the highest proportions of elderly aged 65 and above. Many of the residents live in smaller 2-room and 3-room flats. As a result, Queenstown earned its reputation as an "elderly town"

Further developments in Dawson located in Princess Estate have attracted many young Singaporeans to this area in the 2000s as part of the urban renewal efforts. It was announced in 2006 that Margaret Drive will be developed into a modern district with amenities. [13]

Due to the comparatively longer heritage of Queenstown district, local community has flourished. Various online communities such as MyQueenstown have been introduced by the local, independent parts of the district. This has certainly changed the image of the district.

Transportation

Buona Vista MRT Station platforms CC22 Buona Vista Platform A Art in Transit.jpg
Buona Vista MRT Station platforms

Mass Rapid Transit

There are 9 Mass Rapid Transit stations that serve the planning area, across 2 lines, the East West Line and the Circle Line. Both lines have an interchange station at Buona Vista station. The 9 stations are:

Bus

There are 3 bus terminals within the planning area. Buona Vista Bus Terminal is located along Holland Drive while Ghim Moh Bus Terminal is located along Ghim Moh Road. Both of which are near to the Buona Vista MRT Station. Kent Ridge Bus Terminal is located within the vicinity of the Kent Ridge campus of the National University of Singapore, at the western portion of the planning area.

All three bus terminals within the planning area are anchored by Clementi Bus Package under Bus Contracting Model.

Roads

Queenstown planning area is connected by road to the rest of Singapore via the Ayer Rajah Expressway, a major expressway connecting western Singapore to the Central Area, and also to Johor via the Tuas Second Link. Major roads in the planning area include Queensway, which is part of the Outer Ring Road System (ORRS), a semi-expressway, together with Portsdown Avenue. Queensway intersects with Commonwealth Avenue, a major road that parallels the East West Line and continues into Commonwealth Avenue West at Buona Vista. At the southern portion, the West Coast Highway is a major arterial road that links the district of Pasir Panjang to the Jurong Industrial Estate to the west and the Central Area to the east. At the eastern border with Bukit Merah, Alexandra Road is a major road that connects Pasir Panjang Road with Ayer Rajah Expressway, Queensway and Commonwealth Avenue.

Education

Queenstown Planning Area is home to various schools and prominent educational institutions such as the main campus of the National University of Singapore.

Primary schools

Secondary schools

Tertiary Institutions

Other schools

Other amenities

The Star Vista The Star Vista, Singapore.jpg
The Star Vista

Other places in Queenstown include

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Ballater Close and Forfar Square(former road area Change to unnamed road for some reason).

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clementi, Singapore</span> Planning Area and HDB Town in West Region, Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghim Moh</span> Subzone of Queenstown Planning Area in Singapore

Ghim Moh is a neighbourhood located in Queenstown, Singapore. The estate consists of 28 blocks.

Buona Vista is a housing estate located in the subzones of one-north and Holland Drive in the residential township of Queenstown in Singapore. The housing estate is served by the Buona Vista MRT station which links it up with the MRT system. It also has a bus terminal.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dover, Singapore</span> Subzone of Queenstown Planning Area in Central Region ----, Singapore

Dover is a relatively small neighbourhood of Singapore, located in Queenstown. It is bordered by Ghim Moh to the north, Kent Ridge to the south and southeast, one-north and Queenstown to the east, Commonwealth and Holland Village to the northeast Clementi to the west and West Coast to the southwest. It is often a noted location due to the sheer number of educational facilities it holds, while lying in a zone between the Central Area and near industrial zone in the vicinity of Jurong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth MRT station</span> Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore

Commonwealth MRT station is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the East West line in Queenstown, Singapore located at Commonwealth Avenue near the junction of Commonwealth Drive. The station serves the residential neighbourhoods of Commonwealth and Tanglin Halt. The station is in the vicinity of schools such as New Town Primary School, CHIJ Kellock, Faith Methodist Church, and Queensway Secondary School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Town Secondary School</span> Government school in Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanglin</span> Planning Area in Central Region ----, Singapore

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Coast, Singapore</span> Subzone of Clementi Planning Area in Singapore

West Coast is a subzone located in the town of Clementi, the western part of Singapore. The subzone currently lies in the West Coast GRC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Commonwealth, Singapore</span> Subzone of Queenstown Planning Area in Singapore

Commonwealth is a subzone of Queenstown, located in the central-western part of Singapore. It is named after the Commonwealth of Nations. Commonwealth consists of Housing and Development Board flats, and there is one primary school and a secondary school in the area, New Town Primary School and Queensway Secondary School. SBS Transit Bus Services 32, 51, 93, 100, 105, 111, 122, 123, 145, 147, 153, 186, 195, 196, 198, SMRT Buses Services 61, 961/961M & 970 and Tower Transit Singapore Service 855 passes through this area. The nearest Mass Rapid Transit station is Commonwealth MRT station. Amenities in the area include Blessed Sacrament Church, Faith Methodist Church, Masjid Mujahidin Mosque, Queenstown Community Centre, Queenstown Lutheran Church, Ridout Tea Garden, Shuang Long Shan Wu Shu Ancestral Hall, Sri Muneeswaran Temple and Tanglin Halt Food Centre and Market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Queenstown Heritage Trail</span>

My Queenstown Heritage Trail is a walking trail in Queenstown, Singapore. The trail was launched in 2010 by civic group, My Community, to promote the heritage, local culture and architectural styles in Queenstown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kent Ridge</span> Subzone of Queenstown Planning Area in Singapore

Kent Ridge is the name of a ridge and a neighbourhood located in Pasir Panjang, in the Queenstown Planning Area of Singapore. The area is notable for housing two parks within the Southern Ridges, Kent Ridge Park and HortPark. The main campus of the National University of Singapore is located adjacent to it, straddling along the southern boundary of Kent Ridge. It is served by the Kent Ridge MRT station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queenstown Public Library</span> Public library in Singapore

Queenstown Public Library is one of the 26 public libraries established by the National Library Board of Singapore. It was the first full-time Branch Library to be built by the National Library in its plan to decentralise home reading services. It pioneered several firsts amongst Branch Libraries, including becoming the first fully air-conditioned Branch in 1978, computerising its loan services in 1987, and lending video cassettes in 1997. It was refurbished in 2003. The building plans were approved by Mrs Hedwig Anuar, the then-Director of the National Library. Building construction began in November 1968 and with its completion, the building was handed over to the National Library on 26 December 1969. It is currently the oldest library in Singapore after the original National Library at Stamford Road was torn down, the first of 26 under the National Library Board (NLB) to be preserved as announced on 25 July 2014 and was gazetted for conservation under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Master Plan 2014, as part of the medium-term physical development of Singapore on 6 June that year.

Tanglin railway station, also known as Tanglin Halt, was a railway station on the Singapore-Johore Railway which served Tanglin, as well as Pasir Panjang, from 1932 to 1983.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanglin Halt</span>

Tanglin Halt is a public housing estate, planning subzone and former industrial estate in Queenstown, Singapore. Most of the older buildings in the estate are set to be demolished by 2024 to make way for redevelopments under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme. It is the third housing estate to be redeveloped under the scheme.

References

  1. 1 2 "Queenstown (Planning Area, Singapore) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". citypopulation.de.
  2. 1 2 HDB Key Statistics FY 2014/2015 Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "Statistics Singapore – Geographic Distribution – 2018 Latest Data" . Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  4. 1 2 "URA 2014 Master Plan". Urban Redevelopment Authority.
  5. ↑ "STATISTICS SINGAPORE - Map of Planning Areas/Subzones in Singapore" (PDF). Singapore Department of Statistics. 18 February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  6. 1 2 "DGP3-Outram". Archived from the original on 21 April 2008. Retrieved 17 December 2005.
  7. ↑ "Boh Beh Kang Villagers". Archived from the original on 4 March 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 Savage, Victor R. (2013). Singapore street names : a study of toponymics. Brenda S. A. Yeoh. Singapore. p. 730. ISBN   978-981-4484-74-9. OCLC   868957283.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ↑ "New Town for 70,000". The Straits Times . Singapore. 28 September 1953. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  10. ↑ "DGP3-Outram". 23 March 2003. Archived from the original on 23 March 2003. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "URA Planning Report - QUEENSTOWN". 30 April 2002. Archived from the original on 30 April 2002. Retrieved 16 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Stirling Residences Condo @ Queenstown-69695530 Singapore". 23 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "My Queenstown".

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