Balestier Heritage Trail
The Balestier precinct is named after Joseph Balestier, the first American Consul to Singapore, who owned a sugarcane plantation there. Today, the area is well-known for eateries as well as shops selling lighting equipment and bathroom goods.During the 1900s, the Balestier precinct started to evolve into a residential neighbourhood, and it was in Balestier where the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) built its first housing estate at Lorong Limau in the 1930s. Most of the SIT houses were later replaced by Housing & Development Board flats by the late 1970s. Within the precinct, there are a number of important sites and landmarks such as Tan Tock Seng Hospital and the former Malay Film Productions studio; religious and cultural institutions such as Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple, Thong Teck Sian Tong Lian Sin Sia and Masjid Hajjah Rahimabi Kebun Limau; as well as numerous sports clubs located on Balestier Plain.
The Balestier Heritage Trail uncovers the rich history of the area as it transformed from a plantation into a precinct filled with shophouses and buildings with diverse architectural styles. It also explores the communities, clubs, schools, healthcare institutions and religious landmarks that collectively make up Balestier’s unique cultural landscape.
Follow us on this self-guided trail as we explore Balestier’s rich heritage and gain insights into this precinct through the memories of those who have lived, worked and played here!
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