Bukit Merah

The hilly plains of Bukit Merah suited the growing of gambier and its surrounding forests provided ready fuel for the boiling of gambier. Not surprisingly, a large part of Telok Blangah was bought over by Seah Eu Chin, the "Gambier King" to cultivate gambier. Pepper plantations alternated with the growth of gambier throughout Bukit Merah area. This however, led to the depletion of forest growth resulting in barren hills in the late 19th century. Villages dotted with attap huts were common before the site saw 21 blocks of 7-storey government flats rise in 1955. The brick factory of Lim Loh, father of Lim Bo Seng was also sited here. By the 1960s, emergency flats, the standard one-room, 2-room and 3-room flat sprouted quickly to house a growing population. The main street, Jalan Bukit Merah was originally known as Silat Road.

Key Features
Singapore Glass Manufacturers at Henderson was a prominent landmark before the development of Henderson Industrial Estate. So was Jardine steps before the development of the Maritime Square. Bukit Merah's many prominent landmarks today include Mount Faber, the highest point along the southern coast of Singapore and the Mount Faber Cable Car Station; Telok Blangah Hill on which stands Alkaff Mansions, Labrador Park, the Singapore General Hospital, the World Trade Centre, Tiong Bahru MRT Station, and Redhill MRT Station. At the waterfront stands Keppel Harbour and the BP refinery which would make way for a maritime commercial hub and waterfront residence.

The Tang Suahn Kiong San Soh Hoo Chu Temple used to stand along Henderson Road. It was reputedly Singapore's 2nd oldest temple until it was forced to make way for redevelopment and was torn down on 5 September 1978.

Along Jalan Bukit Merah stands the magnificent Silat Road Sikh Temple. It has the largest palki or "palanquin", the Sikh Holy Book, weighing 10 tonnes and measuring 3 m long, 1.5m wide and 4 m high. Its 10m dome is the largest in world for Sikh temples. Dedicated to the original builders, the Sikh Police Contingent, who helped construct the temple in 1924, the temple draws devotees from around the world. The temple also has a 7-storey heritage centre.

There are 17 sub-zones in Bukit Merah which is bounded by Alexandra Road to the west, Jervois Lane, Prince Charles Square and Alexandra Canal to the north, and Kim Seng and Outram Road to the east. The area is approximately 1,413 ha.

Variant Names
Chinese name: In Hokkien Ang Suah also means "Red Hill".
Malay name: In Malay, Bukit Merah also means "Red Hill".



Author
Vernon Cornelius



References 
Bukit Merah: From a hilly kampong to a modern town (pp. 6-7). (1996). Singapore: Federal Publications.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUK)

Edwards, N. & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p.332). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 EDW)

Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1993). Bukit Merah planning area. Planning report 1993 (pp. 4, 6, 8, 12, 20). Singapore: Urban Redevelopment Authority
(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN)

Bukit Merah set to become a high-class area. (1994, January 7). The Straits Times, Life!, p. 8.

Old and modern-day exhibits on Bukit Merah go on display. (1995, April 28). The Straits Times, Life!, p. 36.

Temple devotees have to move out in nine days. (1978, August 27). The Sunday Times.

Temple restoration scores some first. (1995, October 10). The Straits Times.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Streets and Places
Suburbs--Singapore
Street names--Singapore
Urbanization--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Area planning
History>>Asia>>Southeast Asia>>Singapore

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