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Dalhousie Obelisk

Dalhousie Obelisk, landmark, located at Empress Place in the Central Region. The tall 'needle-like' monument commemorates the visit of Lord James Andrew, the Marquise of Dalhousie, Governor-General of India (1848-1856). It originally stood on the Cenotaph site off Connaught Drive from which it was removed to the Empress Place where it still stands today.

Designed by Government Architect and Surveyor, John Turnbull Thomson, the Dalhousie Obelisk's shape closely follows the famous Cleopatra's Needle. It was paid for by $5 subscription funds with a total amount of $1,305 contributed by the residents of Singapore. It was completed by the end of 1850, and the inscriptions on it are in Jawi, Chinese, Tamil and English respectively on each side: "Erected by the European, Chinese, and Native Inhabitants of Singapore to commemorate the visit in the month of February 1850, of the Most Noble the Marquis of Dalhousie, K. T., Governor-General of British India on which occasion he emphatically recognised the wisdom of liberating commerce from all restraints under which enlightened policy this Settlement has rapidly attained its present rank among British Possessions and with which its future prosperity must ever be identified".

The Dalhousie Obelisk monument at Empress Place was named after Lord James Andrew, the Marquise of Dalhousie, Governor-General of India (1848-1856) whose visit Singapore on 17-19 February 1850 was received in great anticipation of a change in local administration, particularly in reducing expenditure. After his return to India, the Marquis brought the Straits Settlements under his control as Governor-General, where in the past it had been under the Bengal Presidency. Since 1840, the Straits Settlements were dissatisfied with the rule of the East India Company in Calcutta. The Dalhousie Obelisk was built to remind merchants of the benefits of free trade.

With the construction of Connaught Drive and Anderson Bridge, the Obelisk had to be moved twice before it stood at Empress Place. First in 1891, after improvements on the Esplanade saw a need to relocate the monument a mere few yards from its original spot where it had been obstructing traffic. The second move was at Empress Place, in front of the Memorial Hall. The present location is said to be nearer the actual spot where the Marquis landed. The landing jetty which was at the mouth of the Singapore River was named Dalhousie Pier. That area of the river-bank was called Dalhousie Ghaut. Dalhousie Lane (between Clive Street and Campbell Lane) is also named after him.



Author
Vernon Cornelius


 
References 
Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1988). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 380). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 915.957 EDW)

Pugalenthi. (1993). A stroll through old Singapore (pp. 38-41). Singapore: VJ Times.
(Call no.: SING 959.57 PUG)

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

Reith, G. M. (1985). Handbook to Singapore (p. 59). Singapore: Oxford University Press. 
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 REI)

Samuel, D. S. (1991). Singapore's heritage: Through places of historical interest (pp. 121-123). Singapore: Elixir Consultancy Service.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SAM)

The information in this article is valid as at 1999 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Personalities>>Biographies>>Political Leaders
Architecture and Landscape>>Building Types>>Monuments
Obelisks--Singapore
Historic buildings--Singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Architectural structure

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