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Jurong

It used to be a mangrove swamp area, hilly, jungle-covered land with plantation farms, fish and prawn ponds and crocodile-infested rivers. The rural land was mostly state-owned except for plots owned by a small number of residents. In 1961, Dr Albert Winsemius initiated the industrialisation programme for Singapore. Jurong was the chosen site. Low hills were levelled and soil from the area refilled Jurong's swampland to develop 17,000 acres for industrial, residential and recreational amenities. The Jurong Industrial Estate, Singapore's first industrial estate began with the laying of the foundation stone for the National Iron & Steel Mills (today known as NatSteel) on 1 September 1962. Early industries included timber, sawmilling, oil-rig fabrication, shipbuilding and repair.

Singapore's second port, the Jurong Port, began operations in 1963. The port handles and transports raw materials and manufactured products. It is currently undergoing a new phase of development with the expansion of Pulau Damar Laut. On 1 June 1968, Jurong Town Corporation (JTC) was established, heading the planning, development and management of all industrial sites. The economy took off in the 1970s, and the Corporation stepped up its development of facilities, ahead of demand. As the economy matured in the 1980s, JTC emphasised development of facilities for high technology and capital-intensive industries.

Singapore's first business park, the International Business Park, located at Jurong East, hopes to attract and retain high technology business.

Jurong green belts include the Jurong Bird Park, Chinese and Japanese Gardens, Jurong Lake, and the Jurong Country Club. Other landmarks include the Singapore Science Centre, Jurong Stadium, Jurong East MRT Train Station and Bus Interchange, Boon Lay, Chinese Garden and Lakeside MRT Train Stations.

Variant Names
Chinese name: In Hokkien, Yu-long,a phonetic translation.
Malay name: Jurong is derived from the Malay word jerong which literally means "shark". It is also a reference to an unscrupulous, greedy person. Why Jurong is named such is uncertain.



Author
Vernon Cornelius



References
Ramachandra, S. (1961). Singapore landmarks, past and present (p. 38). Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 RAM)

Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1996). Boon Lay & Pioneer planning area: Planning report 1996. Singapore: The Authority.
(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN)

Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1995). Jurong East planning area: Planning report 1995 (pp 14, 16). Singapore: The Authority.
(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN) 

Urban Redevelopment Authority. (1996). Jurong West planning area: Planning report 1996. Singapore: Urban Redevelopment Authority.
(Call no.: RSING 711.4095957 SIN)


Further Readings
Jurong Town Corporation. (1999). Jurong Story. Retrieved June 21, 1999, from www.jtc.gov.sg/jtc/about/jurongstory.html.

Subject
Architecture and Landscape>>Streets and Places
Geography>>Population>>Urban Planning
Commerce and Industry>> Industries
Recreation>> places of Interest
Street names--Singapore
Suburbs--Singapore--Jurong
Industrial districts--Singapore
Business, finance and industry>>Business organization>>Business enterprises
Arts>>Architecture>>Public and commercial buildings
Arts>>Architecture>>Area planning