Home / Architecture and Landscape

Sungei Road

History
Sir Stamford Raffles had designated this area for the homes of affluent Europeans and Asians so the Arabs and Malays who had settled there previously were relocated to the east of Sungei Road at Kampong Glam. A few two-storey and three-storey shophouses were built here during the late 19th and early 20th century. Unfortunately, they were demolished in the 1930s.

Key Features
Thieves Market
Sungei Road's most defining feature, the thieves market, came to be located here in the 1930s. The market gained its name because most of the goods sold here were acquired through illegitimate means. The name also had a double meaning as the items purchased here were considered a great steal. Probably because of the abundant choice of goods, the thieves market was colloquially referred to as Robinson petang, meaning "evening Robinson", a cheeky reference to the large Robinson Departmental Store, except this market catered to the poor man.

The market was fuelled by the presence of the British military bases in Singapore and its goods reflected the needs of this community. Initially, army surplus goods that included parachutes, raincoats, knapsacks, billycans and boots were sold here. Soon electrical appliances that were either stolen, smuggled or were factory rejects cropped up here. Other goods such as porcelain pottery, brasswares, trinkets and everything one could think of buying or selling were quickly added to this market. In their heyday, vendors displayed their goods on a mat by the roadside, calling out to potential customers. Quite some haggling took place before a price was reached and the goods changed hands. In the 60s and 70s, the market became popular with Malaysians for its affordable prices and the possibility of bulk purchases. After bringing life and bustle into the street for more than half a century, the thieves market began to fade away from the 1980s, particularly as in August 1982, a portion of the street market was disbanded. Remnants of the market still remain with vendors displaying their wares along the streetside daily.

Singapore Ice Works
The Singapore Ice Works was established at the junction of Sungei Road and Pitt Road in the 1930s. It was the first ice-making plant in Singapore and was popular as a pioneer establishment that brought refrigeration and air-conditioning to Singapore. It was renamed the New Singapore Ice Works in 1958. Later the factory was bought by Cold Storage who ran it under their management. However, in 1984, the Housing Development Board (HDB) took over the location and the factory operations had to be moved elsewhere.

Rochor Market
The Rochor Market, a wet market, was another popular landmark in this area. Built in 1872, it served the surrounding community for more than a century. In August 1982, part of the market was demolished and its stalls were moved elsewhere.

Variant Names
Chinese name: Tek-kha ma-ta-chhu tui-bin gu-long pi koi (Hokkein). Chuk-tsai ma-ta-liu-tui-min ngau lan pin kai (Cantonese). Both literally meant "the street beside the cattlepens opposite the Tekka Police Station". The Tekka police station was later known as the Kandang Kerbau Police Station, taking its name from the Kandang Kerbau area.



Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja



References
Dunlop, P. K. G. (2000). Street names of Singapore (p. 294). Singapore: Who's Who Publications.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 DUN)

Edwards, N., & Keys, P. (1996). Singapore: A guide to buildings, streets, places (p. 142). Singapore: Times Books International.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 EDW)

Gopalakrishnan, V., & Perera, A (Eds.). (1983). Singapore changing landscapes: Geylang, Chinatown, Serangoon (pp. 99-100). Singapore: FEP International.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)

Savage, V. R., & Yeoh, B. S. A. (2003). Toponymics: A study of Singapore street names (pp. 363-364). Singapore: Eastern Universities Press.
(Call no.: SING 915.9570014 SAV)

Tyers, R. K. (1993). Ray Tyers' Singapore: Then and now (p. 76). Singapore: Landmark Books.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 TYE)

Firmstone, H. W. (1905, February). Chinese names of streets and places in Singapore and the Malay Peninsula. Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 4, 132-133.
(Call no.: RSING 959.5 FIR)

Tan, G. S. (2000, August). The history of refrigeration in Singapore. ASHRAE Journal, 3.
(Call no.: R 697 ASHRAE) 


List of Images
Gopalakrishnan, V., & Perera Ananda (Eds). (1983). Singapore changing landscapes: Geylang, Chinatown, Serangoon (pp.98-100). Singapore: FEP International.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN) 

The information in this article is valid as at 2002 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
Architecture and Landscape>>Streets and Places
Geography>>Population>>Urban Planning
Street names--Singapore
Historic sites--Singapore
Urbanization--singapore
Arts>>Architecture>>Public and commercial buildings



All Rights Reserved. National Library Board Singapore 2004.