Jurong was a mangrove swamp before it was developed into an industrial estate in 1961. Residential and recreational amenties were built in the next two decades to attract workers and to facilitate the expansion of the estate. Jurong has since developed into a self-sufficient town with a land area of approximately 12 km², and consisting of five administrative zones. In response to the town's rising income gentrification in recent years, a Five-Year Master Plan to further develop Jurong Town was announced in 2006. Landmarks in Jurong include Jurong Port, Jurong Town Corporation, Singapore Science Centre and Jurong Bird Park.
History
Before it was selected as the site for the development of an industrial estate, Jurong was a mangrove swamp area with some plantation farms, fish and prawn ponds and crocodile-infested rivers. The rural land was mostly state-owned except for plots owned by a small number of residents. Joe David, the relative of a local magnate, managed the place. The residents knew him as Jew-Orang. The name Jurong could be possibly derived from the shortening of the term Jew-orang to Jurong.
In 1961, Dr. Albert Winsemius initiated the industrialisation programme for Singapore. A land area of 69km2 in Jurong was the chosen site. Low hills were levelled and soil from the area refilled Jurong's swampland to develop industrial, residential and recreational amenities. The Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore's first industrial estate, began with the laying of the foundation stone for the National Iron & Steel Mills (today known as NatSteel) on 1 September, 1962. Early industries included timber, sawmilling, oil-rig fabrication, shipbuilding and repair. By 1976, 650 factories were in operation and more than 20,000 flats occupied.
Description
Administered by the Jurong Group Representation Constituency (GRC), the constituency of Jurong occupies a land area of 12.145km2 and is divided into five zones: Central Jurong, Taman Jurong, Yuhua, Bukit Batok East and Bukit Batok. The Jurong Town Council, made official in 1991, is the management unit for Jurong GRC.
From the 1970s to 1990s, in order to attract workers and facilitate the expansion of Jurong Industrial Estate, residential and recreational amenties were constructed by the Economic Development Board. The estate has since developed into a self-sufficient town with a good transportation network consisting of buses and the Mass Rapid Transit rail system. It has amenities such as wet markets, food centres, sports complexes, schools, polyclinics, places of worship, shopping malls, libraries, community centres and a country club. The estate also boasts of several tourist attractions, namely Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Science Centre, as well as the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.
By 2000, the estate was experiencing a rising income gentrification with private residential developments springing up alongside flats that are built by the Housing Development Board. In response to the change in profile of residents, plans were made to further enhance existing facilities. Educational institutions, such as Jurong Primary School and Yuan Ching Secondary School, were renovated. On 25 March 2006, the Jurong Town Council launched a Five-Year Master Plan to upgrade Jurong town. Under the Main Upgrading Programme and Life Upgrading Programme, improvements to be made include expanded playground areas, a fitness corner for the elderly, ramps for disabled, covered walkways, repainting and re-wiring works and communal gardens. A 700-bed Jurong General Hospital would also be built by 2014. Roads at Toh Tuck Avenue and Jurong Town Hall were also to be widened.
In 2008, extensive plans to improve the quality of life in Jurong was unveiled by the Urban Re-development Authority. The Jurong Lake area will be home to a water sports hub, with improved walkways and scenic trails to be added. In the same year, Jurong Point shopping mall was expanded twofold.
Jurong Port
Singapore's second port, the Jurong Port, began operations in 1963. The port handles and transports raw materials and manufactured products. It has undergone a further expansion phase after the completion of Pulau Damar Laut expansion. Currently, the Port has 23 berths, more than 174 000m² of warehouse facilities and can accommodate ships up to 150 000 deadweight tonnes. The Container Terminal receives containers from lines such as Goldstar, Hanjin and TS Lines. The Cargo Terminal is a one-stop centre for consolidating, packaging and redistribution of goods. Jurong Port has won accolades, such as the Best Emerging Container Terminal Operator Asia from 2003 to 2007 and Best Container Terminal Operator Asia in 2009.
Jurong Town Corporation
On 1 June 1968, Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) was established, heading the planning, development and management of all industrial sites. The economy took off in the 1970s, and the Corporation stepped up its development of facilities, ahead of demand. As the economy matured in the 1980s, JTC emphasised development of facilities for high technology and capital-intensive industries. In 2000, it was renamed as JTC Corporation, and moved its headquarters to its second permanent home, the JTC summit.
Singapore's first business park, the International Business Park was built in 1992. Located at Jurong East, it hopes to attract and retain high technology business. Pioneered by JTC, it is now home to international and home-grown companies such as Acer Computer International Ltd., Ascendas Pte. Ltd. and Creative Technology Centre Pte. Ltd. Other developments under JTC include Jurong Island, Biopolis, Logispark, Chinese and Japanese Gardens.
Variant Names
Chinese name: In Hokkien, Yu-long,a phonetic translation.
Malay name: Jurong is derived from the Malay word "jerong" which literally means "shark". It is also a reference to an unscrupulous, greedy person.
Author
Grace Lee and Vernon Cornelius
References
Jurong Journeys . (1996). Singapore: Published by Oracle Works for PAP Jurong Branch.
(Call No.: RSING 959.57 JUR -[HIS])
Jurong Port Pte. Ltd. (May 2009). About us. Retrieved May 23, 2009, from http://www.jp.com.sg/
Ramachandra, S. (1961). Singapore landmarks, past and present (p. 38). Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 RAM)
Singapore. JTC Corporation. (2003). Happy birthday: commemorating 35 years of JTC Corporation, 1968-2003. Singapore: JTC Corporation.
(Call No.: RSING q338.095957 HAP)
Singapore. Jurong Town Council. (2006). Home is where our heart is: Jurong Town Council 5-year master plan (2006-2010). Singapore: Jurong Town Council.
(Call No.: RSING 363.585095957 HOM)
Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1995). Jurong East planning area: Planning report 1995 (pp 14, 16). Singapore: The Authority.
(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN)
Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1996). Boon Lay & Pioneer planning area: Planning report 1996. Singapore: The Authority.
(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN)
Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1996). Jurong West planning area: Planning report 1996. Singapore: Urban Redevelopment Authority.(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN)
Urban Redevelopment Authority. (2008, April 4). Blueprint for Jurong unveiled [Press release]. Retrieved May 22, 2008, from http://www.ura.gov.sg/pr/text/2008/pr08-38.html.
Further Readings
Jurong Town Corporation. (1999). Jurong Story. Retrieved June 21, 1999, from www.jtc.gov.sg/jtc/about/jurongstory.html.
The information in this article is valid as at 2009 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.
