Founded in 1859 by the local Agri-Horticultural Society, the Botanic Gardens shown in the photograph was established on land that was given by Hoo Ah Kay also known as Whampoa. The first Botanic Gardens in Singapore, established by Sir Stamford Raffles in 1822, had been at Government Hill which is now Fort Canning Hill. The Botanic Gardens became a public park after it was taken over by the government in 1874.
