This saturday I was lucky to be part of a heritage tour at the Fullerton Hotel. We were taken back in time to literally the beginning of Singapore as the strong commercial port city that it is today and the fascinating role that the Fullerton played through the years.
The Fullerton Hotel (as we know it today) completed 12 years on the stroke of midnight this 2013 and to commemorate that 12000 balloons were released at midnight. That must've been beautiful!
But the real history behind the Fullerton started way back in 1919 when it was originally commissioned to be part of the British colony's centennial celebrations in Singapore. Named after Robert Fullerton, (The Governor of the Straits) it was opened in June 1928 and housed various different tenants. The General Post Office, The Singapore Club, the Import & Export Dept..these were just some of the offices that were originally part of the Fullerton Building.
What was interesting to know was how the building was build on land that originally housed Fort Fullerton. Battery Road was named after the huge Battery that used to scare and disturb the peace of the local tradesmen during their busy work days at the Singapore river.
Interesting facts were shared such as:
- The Cavenagh Bridge is one of the oldest bridges in Singapore and the only suspension bridge to exist there. It was built in Glasgow and then assembled in Singapore by indian convicts. It's is a beautiful bridge to look at and although no longer in use today, is open to pedestrians to experience the wonderful architecture.
- One of the 1st banks to open up in Singapore was the Union Bank of Calcutta (but it was owned by the British)
The Fullerton Building/Hotel site is arguably the birthplace of Singapore life today because of it's location at the side of the Singapore river, importance in facilitating trade and commerce in the region and establishing Singapore as the strong port it is today
- The Straits Room (on the 4th floor of the hotel) was the original billiards room for the Singapore Club and today it is often used for weddings and functions. The point to note here is that it's elegant and stunningly beautiful ceiling is still intact and exactly the way it was when built
The entrance to the Singapore Club used to be where 'The Salon de Flores' exists today
From 1959 - 1988 PM Lee used to stand right outside the Fullerton and conduct political rallies which indicates the importance of the area not just historically but politically as well
- There are a total of 32 columns on the outside of the Fullerton Hotel today
-the 4 'keys' crucial to the development of this region in Singapore is of course Robertson quay, Clarke quay, Boat quay and Colleyer quay
We had such a wonderful time exploring the Lighthouse and the stunning 360 degree views it offered us of the CBD and the MBS. The quaint post boxes (the original and the one still in use today) within the hotel premises and the huge 'white elephant' at the Fullerton Heritage Gallery .
Although a beautiful hotel, The Fullerton is so much more than that and walking through those beautiful rooms one can't help but wonder in awe just how far Singapore has come today - from it's start as a tiny little 'Temasek' (fishing village) to the 1st world, stunningly efficient and beautiful country that it is today. And the Fullerton was an integral part of that entire journey and continues to be.
