The Padang in Singapore
November 30th, 2009
If you’ve come to Singapore for pleasure or for business, if you’ve come for the sights or for working with a private bank of Singapore, you may find it relaxing to take a break and take a walking tour. For instance, take a look at a long stretch of land deep inside Singapore’s government district. It’s known as The Padang, a Malay word for “field”, and the area was once part of the beach, but through land reclamation efforts, this land is almost a mile inland. You’ll find in this area a great variety of buildings and , including St. Andrews Cathedral, City Hall, and the Old Supreme Court.
St. Andrews Cathedral was built in 1837 by Indian convicts, a hundred and seventy-two years ago, and was modeled after the Netley Abbey in England which, in turn, was constructed in the 13th Century. It wasn’t consecrated until 33 years later, though, in 1870. Forming the Cross of St. Andrews are four paths that lead to the cathedral. The building served as a hospital during the Japanese invasion in World War Two.
Down along St. Andrews Road, and just on the other side of Coleman Road, you’ll find City Hall. This building in the neoclassical style, was built in 1929, and served first as a municipal office. It’s famous, though, for what happened later: September 12, 1945. This is the spot on which the Japanese surrendered before Lord Mountbatten. Also, on the same steps, in August 9, 1965, Lee Kuan Yew, made the announcement that Singapore was now an independent state, apart from Malaysia.
Across from the court building, you’ll discover the Old Supreme Court. This was once the site of a waterfront hotel, the Grand Hotel de l’Europe, which was demolished seventy-four years ago, in 1935, allowing for the court to be built. The Supreme Court opened in 1939, and is the last example of the British neoclassical buildings for administration. A sculpture just above the entrance was made by Rudolph Nolli, an Italian sculptor who worked, as well, on a portion of the throne room for the King of Siam in Bangkok.
There are numerous, other sites in the Pandang, you may wish to see, including a Victorian-era Cricket Club, the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Parliament House, the Victoria Concert Hall, and the Asian Civilizations Museum. At the end of the lane, you’ll see with his back to the river, a statue of Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. The legend goes that he touched aground here in 1819, and later declared this small island belonged to the East India Company. Of course, today Singapore is one of the three city-states left in the world, including the Vatican and Monaco.
And there in front of you as you come to the end of the lane, facing away from the river, sits a large statue of Sir Stamford Raffles. Legend has it that this was where he first touched Singapura soil January 1819, later declaring the small island a territory of the East India Company.
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