Fullerton heritage gallery launched

Fullerton heritage gallery launched to promote area's rich history

A gallery has been set up to capture and preserve the rich heritage and history of the Fullerton precinct.

Heritage trails and markers will be introduced to allow the public to better understand and appreciate the history and heritage of the area.

The precinct includes many historic buildings, such as the The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, The Fullerton Waterboat House, One Fullerton, Clifford Pier, the recently re-opened Customs House and the new Fullerton Bay Hotel which opened on Thursday.

The buildings in the Marina Bay area have seen dramatic transformations over the years.

From 1928 to 1996, the Fullerton Building housed Singapore's first General Post Office, along with other colonial governmental offices. Today, it is home to The Fullerton Hotel.

Bala Subramanion, Singapore's first local Post Master General, said: "In those days, it was like a stable. But now it looks like a palace, transformed into a palace!"

A walking trail has also been proposed to help visitors appreciate the area's history and heritage.

Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, Lui Tuck Yew, said: "A lot of the early history of Singapore is centred around the Fullerton Building, around this side of the Bay because all that we see across the Bay never existed until recent years.

"But as we are able now to walk around the entire Bay, we ought to put appropriate markers in place so that we have a better understanding of the development that has taken place over the years."

Mr Lui also launched the Fullerton Heritage Gallery, which aims to bring to life the rich significance of the precinct. Spread out over 800 square feet, the gallery contains photographs, stamps and even a vintage weighing scale.

Mr Lui said preserving and revitalising the precinct is all the more important given the rich social and historical significance of the Fullerton Building.

Over the years, it housed many important arms of the government, such as the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The precinct, which is supported by the National Heritage Board's Heritage Industry Incentive Programme, saw contributions from individuals and organisations to preserve various aspects of Singapore's heritage.

Mr Lui praised the efforts of the Fullerton Heritage team, some of whom received training on the history of the Fullerton precinct to help them better understand the background of the area.

The precinct launch also saw the return of the Foundation Stone to its original position outside the Fullerton Building.

Part of a proposed monument paying tribute to Singapore's early founders, the stone was erected outside the Fullerton Building in 1970 by Singapore's first President, Yusof Ishak. It was moved to the National Archives of Singapore in 2000 when development works in the area began.

Visitors to the gallery can also look out for eye-catching post boxes at the gallery's entrance.

Once found on the streets of Singapore, the pillar post boxes are now almost impossible to find in this part of the world. The ones at the gallery's entrance had to be specially shipped over from the United Kingdom. And more than just a display, they are actual working post boxes.

There are only three pillar post boxes in Singapore, with the third located in front of the Philatelic Museum.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-