Eu Tong Sen Street (and former Wayang Street)
Eu Tong Sen (1877-1944, Cantonese) was the King of Tin. His assets included tin mines, rubber plantations, banks and medical shops in Singapore, Malaya and Hong Kong. In Singapore, his assets included properties along Eu Tong Sen Road, ownership of Lee Wah Bank and Eu Yan Sang (now listed in the Stock Exchange) and a mansion in Mount Sophia (since redeveloped). In 1919, Eu Tong Sen Street was extended by merging with Wayang Street. It was done at the request of Eu, on the basis that he bought nearly all the houses along that street.
Source: What's in the Name? by Yew Peng Ng, Pg. 151
Wayang Street, which was merged with Eu Tong Sen Street in 1919, was as open air performance area of operas (Wayang means opera in Malay).
Source: What's in the Name? by Yew Peng Ng, Pg. 433
January 2020
Majestic Theatre
This decentralization of opera activity could be the reason Tian Yan Da Wu Tai was rented out to the Shaw Brothers in 1938, who renamed it the Queen’s Theatre (皇宫戏院), and used it to screen the latest Cantonese blockbuster films. Song and dance troupes - like the Silver Moon Song and Dance troupe from Shanghai - would also perform there.
The Queen’s Theatre was renamed Tai Hwa Opera House (大和剧场) during the Japanese Occupation and was used to screen Japanese propaganda films. The Shaw Brothers’ lease for the theatre ended shortly after the war. The theatre was renamed as Majestic Theatre by its new tenant, the Kong Ngee Film Company (光艺机构). The Ho Brothers, Ho Khee-Yong (何 启荣) and Ho Khee-Siang (何启湘), founders of Kong Ngee, were Singapore film producers who made Cantonese films in Malaysia and Singapore.
In 1956, the late Dato Loke Wan Tho of Cathay Organisation, together with two partners, Wong Siew Leng and Teo Cheng Hay, bought the theatre for S$1.1 million from the Eu family. Many old-timers recalled the place..
January 2020
February 2021
Nam Tin Building
The Great Southern Hotel was situated at 70 Eu Tong Sen Street. It occupied a building constructed in 1927 and owned by Lum Chang Holdings. The building was called Nam Tin, which means “southern sky” in Cantonese. Lum Chang Holdings leased the building to several tenants who operated shops and other businesses, including the Great Southern Hotel. Unlike the upmarket hotels such as Raffles, Goodwood Park and Adelphi which accommodated English-speaking visitors then, the Great Southern Hotel was operated by the Cantonese and catered more to Chinese travellers, including celebrities from Hong Kong and mainland China.
In 1993, Lum Chang Holdings sold Nam Tin for about S$25 million to Yu Kwok Chun. Head of a multinational business empire based in Hong Kong, Yu made his flagship store, Yue Hwa Chinese Products Emporium Limited, into a household name. Following Yu’s purchase of Nam Tin, existing tenants vacated the building and were paid a compensation sum. The Great Southern Hotel made its exit from the building in February 1994. After renovation works, the building was converted into a departmental store, Yue Hwa Chinese Products.
As Nam Tin had been gazetted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for conservation, Yu was asked to preserve the building’s facade, though no restrictions were placed on its interiors. As a result, Nam Tin’s rooftop garden and quaint balconies facing Eu Tong Sen Street were retained.
Source: https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_479_2004-12-15.html
January 2020
February 2018
People's Park Complex
People’s Park Complex is sited on what used to be an open public park at the foot of Pearl’s Hill and along Eu Tong Sen Street, in Chinatown, one of the most populous districts in Singapore. The park later became People’s Park Market (or Pearl’s Market) with outdoor stalls, but was destroyed by a fire on 24 December 1966. It was announced in 1967 that a new shopping centre is to be constructed to replace the one that’s burnt down.
Source: https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1597_2009-10-31.html?s=people%20park%20complex
January 2020
Thong Chai Medical Institution
Thong Chai Medical Institution began in 1867 as a free clinic called Thong Chai Yee Say. Operating out of a rented shophouse at 31 Upper Macao Street (now Upper Pickering Street), it was set up by a group of Chinese immigrants to provide free Chinese medical treatment to the poor and needy. The name “Thong Chai” is derived from the Chinese words 同 (tong), meaning “same” or “equal”, and 济 (ji), which means “to help or relieve”.
In the third quarter of the 19th century, the growing prosperity of many wealthy Chinese, particularly the philanthropic merchants and businessmen, brought about generous support for benevolent causes such as schools, hospitals, cemeteries and religious festivals. Thong Chai Yee Say was one of the beneficiaries, whose most noteworthy patron was Gan Eng Seng. The new building at Wayang Street was made possible through his contributions and funds raised through public subscription, though the British colonial government provided the land. In 1892, the building was completed and Thong Chai Yee Say was renamed Thong Chai Medical Institution.
The new building not only served as a hospital, but also as a centre for activities for the early Chinese community. It was the headquarters of Chinese guilds and the venue for various public meetings. The Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce operated from an office there until 1906.
Source: https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_824_2005-01-25.html
February 2021
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