Behind Street Names: Prominent People of Early Singapore

By Mazelan Anuar

What’s in a name? In the case of a street, it helps to identify the location of a place. It would be very difficult to find your way around if streets have no names. However, there is more to street names than just helping you to find your orientation and bearings.

Have you ever wondered why a street was given a particular name? Based on the Koh Seow Chuan Collection of legal documents and maps, we bring you nine streets of Singapore that connect us to the past. Much of Singapore’s early modern history is hidden behind street names we see everyday.

In early Singapore, the Municipal Councillors or Commissioners were in charge of naming the streets. Streets were commonly named after prominent people, usually as a mark of appreciation for their contributions or services rendered to the community, society or state. Thus, behind the street names there are stories about the people they were named after, their lives and achievements, and the part they played in making Singapore what it is today.

Jalan Tan Tock Seng

Tan Tock Seng – Singapore’s pioneering entrepreneur and philanthropist. Lee, S.H. (1994). 150 years of caring: The legacy of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (p. 14). Singapore: The Hospital.

Jalan Tan Tock Seng is named after Tan Tock Seng. Situated off Moulmein Road, the road had existed as an unnamed road when the Tan Tock Seng Hospital moved to its present site in 1909.

Tan Tock Seng was best known and remembered as a philanthropist especially for the poor in the Chinese community. His contribution towards the setting up of the Chinese Pauper’s Hospital at Pearl’s Hill, which later carried his name, ranked as one of the most significant acts of philanthropy in early Singapore and prompted others to give generously to society for generations to come.

Tan Tock Seng was much respected by the Chinese community and by the British. He was the first Asian Justice of the Peace in Singapore.The Straits Times almanac, calendar and directory for the year 1846. (1846) (p. 34). Singapore: Straits Times Press. (Microfilm NL2363)

Chitty Road

An Indian merchant in the 1900s. From the mid-1920s, the term “Chetty” which had been used interchangeably with “Chitty” was being replaced by the more dignified “Chettiar”. Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.

Chitty Road is named after the Chitty Melaka or Peranakan Indian community who migrated from Malacca to Singapore during the late 19th century and settled in the “Little India” area. In the past, it joined Kampong Kapor Road with Jalan Besar.

Some of the Peranakan Indian immigrants found jobs in the public sector working for the colonial government while the others worked as merchants. Some of the merchants were engaged in money lending activities.

A promissory note of R.M.C. Veerappa Chitty issued in 1886. This note was one of the loan contract documents use by moneylenders at that time. Courtesy of Koh Seow Chuan.

D’Almeida Street

Dr Jose D’Almeida – the patriarch of the D’Almeidas in Singapore and Singapore’s pioneering merchant. Buckley, C.B. (1902). An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore (p. 184). Singapore: Fraser & Neave. (Microfilm NL269).

Located in the oldest commercial section of Singapore Town in Raffles Place, D’Almeida Street is named after Dr Jose D’Almeida. It is one of the oldest streets in Singapore situated in what was then known as “Commercial Square”, where many of the earliest mercantile firms were located. Reference has been made to the street’s name as early as 1861.

Jose D’Almeida was a surgeon in the Portuguese navy who came to Singapore in 1825. On his arrival, D’Almeida established his medical practice in Commercial Square (Raffles Place) under his own name. Soon he decided to become a merchant as well. His business flourished. Later, he included his sons as his business partners and the company was renamed Jose D’Almeida & Sons.

An advertisement in the Straits Times on the importation of foodstuffs and building materials by the company, Joze De Almeida & Sons.The Straits Times, 11 April 1846, p. 4. (From NewspaperSG).

Besides being a merchant, D’Almeida was believed to be the first to venture into plantations in Singapore. He experimented with planting various crops including cotton, coconuts, fruits and spices.

Eu Tong Sen Street

Eu Tong Sen – Singapore’s pioneering builder and entrepreneur. Song, O.S. (1923). One hundred years’ history of the Chinese in Singapore (p. 332). London: Murray. (Microfilm NL3280).

In 1918, part of Wayang Street in Chinatown was improved by Eu Tong Sen. The improvements included an extra bridge as well as new railings for the monsoon drain on the New Bridge Road side of Wayang Street, and back lanes for the new theatres that he was about to build along that stretch of Wayang Street. The rebuilt stretch of Wayang Street was renamed Eu Tong Sen Street in 1919 in recognition of his contribution.

In the Power of Attorney dated 18 February 1924, Eu Tong Sen appointed three persons as attorneys with power to act on his behalf in banking matters related to his business. Courtesy of Koh Seow Chuan.

Eu Tong Sen was very active in Malaya where he owned several tin mines, medicine shops as well as rubber plantations. He also immersed himself in public affairs being a Justice of the Peace in Perak as well as the Chinese representative in the Federal Council of the Federated Malay States from 1909–20. He was conferred the Order of the British Empire for his services.

Kim Seng Road

Tan Kim Seng – Singapore’s pioneering community leader and public benefactor. Song, O.S. (1923). One hundred years’ history of the Chinese in Singapore (p. 49). London: Murray. (Microfilm NL3280).

Kim Seng Road is named after Tan Kim Seng, a respected community leader and public benefactor, who bore the cost of building the road in the early 1860s.

In his Will and Testament dated 17 December 1863, Tan Kim Seng appointed his sons, Tan Beng Swee and Tan Bee Gam, executors and trustees of his estate.Courtesy of Koh Seow Chuan.

Tan Kim Seng was one of the earliest settlers from Malacca. A prominent public benefactor and merchant, he came to Singapore at an early age. He established his mercantile firm, Kim Seng & Co., at Boat Quay in 1842. It soon flourished. By the early 1850s, the company had branches at Malacca, Macassar and Shanghai. It also owned land and property in Singapore, and Tan Kim Seng became one of the wealthiest and most prominent Chinese merchants.

Alkaff Avenue

A few members of Singapore’s pioneering family of landowners, traders and community leaders and benefactors. Wright, A. (Ed.). (1908). Twentieth century impressions of British Malaya (p. 711). London: Lloyd’s Greater Britain Pub. Co. (Microfilm NL2645).

Alkaff Avenue was named after the Alkaff family of Arab traders and landowners in Singapore. Located off Upper Serangoon Road, it once led to the famous Alkaff Gardens that used to grace much of the present Sennett Estate area.

Boating was a popular leisure activity in the lake at Alkaff Gardens. Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.

The first member of the Alkaff family, Syed Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Alkaff arrived in Singapore in 1852. He was a trader from Indonesia who invested in land and property here.

Whampoa Road

Hoo Ah Kay (Whampoa) – Singapore’s pioneering entrepreneur and public servant. Song, O.S. (1923). One hundred years’ history of the Chinese in Singapore (p. 52). London: Murray. (Microfilm NL3280).

Whampoa Road is named after Hoo Ah Kay, a prominent entrepreneur and public servant, who was popularly known as Whampoa after his birthplace, a suburb, in Canton. The road stretched from Kim Keat Road and ended at Whampoa Square.

In the petition of Tan Tock Seng Hospital dated 3 May 1909, Whampoa was listed as Treasurer of Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Courtesy of Koh Seow Chuan.

An enterprising and well-respected man, Whampoa was appointed a Justice of the Peace, a Grand Juror, and Consul for China, Japan and Russia in Singapore. He was the first local to be appointed to the Legislative Council in 1869. On 10 May 1876, he was appointed to the C.M.G. (Companionship of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George), the first Chinese to be bestowed this honour by Britain.

Jiak Kim Street

Tan Jiak Kim – Singapore’s pioneering public servant and community leader. Courtesy of National Meseum of Singapore, National Heritage Board.

Jiak Kim Street is named in the late 1910s, after Tan Jiak Kim, a grandson of Tan Kim Seng. Before the development of the area, shops, offices, stores and godowns used to line the street. Now the area has been developed into one of riverfront living, with condominiums and a hotel.

Tan Jiak Kim served as a Municipal Commissioner overseeing public transport, health and utilities. The Singapore and Straits directory for 1889 (p. 128). Singapore: Singapore and Straits Printing Office. (Microfilm NL1178).

Tan Jiak Kim is renowned for his service to the government and community. He was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1889 when he was only 30 years old. He was also a Municipal Commissioner, member of the Chinese Advisory Board, and a Justice of the Peace, and served on many Government commissions.

Nee Soon Road

Lim Nee Soon – Singapore’s pioneering planter and entrepreneur. Image from Lim Nee Soon Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.

Nee Soon Road was named after Lim Nee Soon in 1950. It was regarded as a “rural” road being far away from the town. In the early 1900s, rubber plantations were found here, where Lim embarked on his pioneering journey as a rubber and pineapple planter.

In the Power of Attorney dated 12 April 1919, Lim Nee Soon, and two other prominent persons – Lee Chim Tuan, manager of Lee Cheng Yan & Co., and Yeo Hock Hoe, partner of Ching Keng Lee & Co. – were appointed by the lessees of the “Raffles Chambers” as attorneys with power to manage this building. Courtesy of Koh Seow Chuan.

Lim Nee Soon played an active role in the public affairs of the Colony, especially in education. He was a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Rural Board. He contributed generously to the Chinese High School and was its treasurer when it was opened in 1919.

About the Author
Mazelan Anuar is a librarian at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library, National Library Singapore.