Task 5: Colonial Building #3

The Empress Place Building was simply considered as Government offices during the colonial period. The building was originally constructed for making a courthouse but it was later transferred into offices for the government departments.

The government offices included in the building were the Secretariat, Audit Office, Registration of Deeds Office, Land Office, Public Works and Medical Department, Treasury and Stamp Office and the bureaus of the Colonial Engineer, the Official Assignee and the Inspector General of the Police Force. On the upper floor of the building there was a room specially occupied by the Legislative Chamber. The public square located in front of the building there was given the name of Empress Place in honor of Queen Victoria . It is considered to be the oldest pedestrian space found in Singapore.

(http://www.focussingapore.com/singapore-tourism/monuments-architecture/empress-place.html)

Task 5: Colonial Building #2

1.       Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

Before WWII, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall was used as a hospital for victims of bombing raids by the Japanese forces during the Battle of Singapore before the Japanese took control of us.  Throughout the Japanese Occupation, the building was bombed but it did not suffered major ‘injuries’. 

Task 5: Colonial Building #1

1.       Fullerton hotel

Before the British gave in to Japan , Fullerton hotel was used as a hospital for injured British soldiers. During WWII. Governor Sir Shenton Thomas and Lady Thomas had sought refuge in the sleeping quarters of the Singapore Club. This building was also where General Percival and Sir Shenton discussed the likelihood of Singapore becoming a property of Japan.  Later, Fullerton Building became the head office of the Japanese Military Administration in Singapore.

Overall reflection

During this trip where our project mates went down to the Singapore River, we have learnt a lot of things including the several Asian cultures that was shown in the Asian Civilisation Museum, etc. My group mates have never thought of finding out the history of the Singapore river nor the cultures of Asia before we had been given this project. I find that this project is greatly beneficial to us as it concerns not only Singapore but all over Asia. All the information we have found out through this expedition would be useful during history lesson in the future.

School values/ HOM used

o   Persist

o   Strive for accuracy and precision

o   Gather data through All Senses

o   Apply past knowledge to new Situations

o   Remain open to continuous learning

o   Self-discipline

o   Perseverance

o   Teamwork

Task 4: (b)

This is a sketch of the meeting between Temenggong and Raffles during the discussion on the setting up of a British trading port in Singapore.

Task 3: Activities along the river in the past/present

Activities shown in the past along the Singapore River

Ø  Row-boats was operated by the Indians before bridges was built in the past.

Ø  In the 1860s, most of the shipping business was held in boat quay.

Ø  As many trading activities was held in boat quay, the employment rate for coolies increased.

Activities shown along the Singapore River now

Ø  There are now river taxis on the Singapore River which can show you the buildings along the Singapore River in a glimpse.

(http://www.singaporetaxitour.com/images/images/river_taxi.jpg  )

Ø  There are several bars, pubs and restaurants in boat quay that allows tourists to have a break after a tiresome walk.

 (http://www.asiaexplorers.com/singapore/boatquay/00.jpg)

Ø  In Clarke Quay, there is a G-Max Reverse Bungee along the Singapore River.

 http://www.focussingapore.com/gallery-images/large/G-Max-Reverse-Bungy/g-max-reverse-bungy.jpg )

Task 2: Clarke Quay

Clarke Quay now

(http://www.singapore-vacation-attractions.com/images/shophouses-of-clarke-quay.jpg)

Clarke Quay in the past

(http://capitalandinside.com/images/stories/CQ-1800s.jpg))

CLARKE QUAY

Similarities

ü  There are stil boats in Clarke Quay.

ü  There are still some high-rise buildings at the back of Clarke Quay.

Diferences

ü  The present Clarke Quay is more crowded than in the past.

ü  The shophouses there in Clarke Quay now is more attractive than those in the past.

Task 2: Boat Quay

Boat Quay now(http://www.asiaexplorers.com/singapore/boatquay/00.jpg)

Boat Quay in the past(http://www.straitscafe.com/postcards/singapore1/boat_quay_1960.jpg)

BOAT QUAY

Similarities                                                                                           

Ø  There are still shophouses along the Boat Quay

Ø  Boats can still be found in the river

Differences

Ø  High-rise buildings can be found along Boat Quay now but there aren’t any High-rise buildings found in the past.

Ø  The shophouses are more attractive than those in the past.

Ø  Restaurants can be found in the shophouses now but not in the past.

Ø  The quantity of the boats found in Boat Quay now is lesser than those found in the past