A report on Singapore River

Cheong Li Anne

109

May 5, 2003

\A report on Singapore River\

The Singapore River, which cuts through the heart of the city, was for many decades the main artery of trade and commerce for the British. The Singapore River was founded by Sir Stamford Raffles, tracing back to 1819 when Raffles' ship arrived on the northeastern bank of the Singapore River.

Soon after that Raffles signed the treaties with the local Malay leaders and set that area as the British entrepot. Successfully, his project turned out to be into 5 quays; Raffles Quay, Collyer Quay, Boat Quay, Clarke prosperous and soon he had to order land reclamation that was divided Quay, and Robertson Quay. By 1850s, the Singapore River was extremely crowded with European and Chinese merchants.

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Its scene was first a true rural area with myrtle covered all around the place. Moreover, numerous skulls were founded littered the riverbanks together with unwanted cargoes of Bugis pirates dumped there as well. However, Today, the Singapore is considered a highlight attraction for visitors. There are plenty of places to eat all along the river, especially Boat Quay that stretches along the southwestern side where restored shops, godowns, and office buildings lie altogether. The most outstanding type of shop in Boat Quay area is but alfresco restaurants that serve Western visitors and local business people. And if you walk up north of Boat Quay, you will find Quarke Quay, which its name was taken from Sir Andrew Clarke, the governor of Straits Settlements from 1873-1875. Up to today, many godowns constructed during 1860 to 1920 by Chinese and European 0entrepreneurs still jostle for space with the many concrete-and-glass skyscrapers that have shot up in more modern times.

At the mouth of the Singapore River stands a statue of the Merlion, a half-lion, half-fish mythical beast that has come to symbolize Singapore. Just recently in 2002, The Esplanade theaters by the bay was completed. It lies opposite the Merlion and is the home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. The government decided to build in hope that it would open doors to the arts in Singapore.

Heading upriver, other historical monuments can be seen, such as the Anderson and Cavenagh Bridges. Cavenagh Bridge, built in 1869 and now for pedestrians only, leads to Empress Place, which was named in honour of Queen Victoria. The imposing Empress Place building, built in1865, was once a courthouse and had just been refurbished as the Second Wing of the Asian Civilisations Museum. Nearby, next to the river, is the spot where Raffles landed in Singapore. This event is commemorated by statue of Raffles, made of white marble and built in 1972, set at the site where he first set foot on the island.

Today, the best way to view many of the buildings, statues, monuments and museums that Singapore has inherited from its colonial past is to take a walk along the Singapore River, or a river-boat tour that starts at Clarke Quay. The passengers would travel along the Singapore River on an old bumboat, the kind that used to navigate up and down the river in colonial times.