Pulau Satumu

The island, about 23 km south-west of Singapore, marks the south channel for the sea passage into Singapore. It is out-of-bounds except for the Raffles Lighthouse staff and visitors with special permission. The foundation stone of the Raffles Lighthouse was laid on 24 May 1854 by Col. W. J. Butterworth, C.B., the Governor of the Straits Settlements.Originally the island was thought too small for the lighthouse, having only a superficial area of 70 ft by 22, and being only 30 ft above the sea-level but the position of the island was considered the best for the lighthouse. The light which is a fixed bright dioptric light of the third order, was lit from 1 December 1855. The island is just one of the several areas where material dredged from the sea is used to reclaim land and beaches. A lagoon has been created with nearby showers and toilets.

Variant Names
English names: Coney Island
Malay names: Setamu or Setumu or Situmbu



Author
Vernon Cornelius-Takahama, 2001



References
Buckley, C. B. (1984). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore: 1819-1867 (pp. 520-526). Singapore: Oxford University Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 BUC)

'New' island for Raffles Lighthouse (1977, April 27) [Microfilm: NL 9057]. New Nation, p. 2

Islands in the sun (1976, December 3) [Microfilm: NL 8965]. New Nation p. 10


Further Readings
Singapore facts and pictures. (Map p. ii, iii). (1996). Singapore : Ministry of Culture.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SMCFFS)

Subject
Geography>>Geographical Areas and Countries>>Singapore Offshore Islands
Islands--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Architectural structure

Librarian Recommendations
>> Raffles Lighthouse


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