Contact me at TimLight99@hotmail.com Return to Home Page

Raffles Place has always been at the commercial heart of Singapore. It was originally known as Commercial Square, but was renamed Raffles Place in the 1860s.

The development of the square from the 1820s onwards has been a fascinating process, with "modern" buildings progressively replacing older buildings every few years. The photos below allow you to trace this development, step by step from the 1860s until the early 1970s. After that, we jump forward to the modern day. If anyone has photos of the transition period between the 1970s and today, I would be delighted to add them.

This early image of Raffles Square, dating from the 1860s, shows that John Little and Co. had a shop in the very early years.
Another 1860s view. I have no idea of the orientation of these images.
Another 1860s view.
Now an 1870s view. We can see the full extent of the square. It must have been a pleasant shady place in the heat of the day.
It is now the 1890s, and big changes have taken place. This is almost the same view as the last photo, and some of the buildings in the distance are still there. However, large new buildings have appeared that will still be there in the middle of the next century.
This is a classic view of the north side of the square, taken around 1912. The prominent building in the centre is Raffles Chambers. This was later to become Robinsons department store, and was destroyed by fire in 1972. Note that the trees have gone, and the square is packed with rickshaws.
This picture, dated 1920, is looking eastward along the square. The domed Chartered Bank building is prominent, with the tower of the Victoria Hall behind it. Just to the right is the John Little building. Note that we now have motor cars!
This picture, also estimated to be around 1920, is looking westward, in the opposite direction to the previous image. The building in the centre is the Mercantile Bank.
An excellent portrait of Raffles Chambers, taken in April 1922. The square is decorated for the visit of British royalty.
This is the eastern end of the square, probably in the 1920s. The Chartered Bank building is prominent, as is the John Little building - the third John Little building we have seen.
This view is thought to have been taken around 1925. It must have been taken from the Chartered Bank building.
There are big changes in this 1930s photo. The new Mercantile Bank building, at the far west end of the square, has replaced its predecessor, and the Union Bank has constructed a substantial new building alongside Raffles Chambers.
According to my notes, this is a 1930s shot. I think it must be late 1930s, because the rickshaws have gone. They were outlawed by 1939. The modern building on the right, next to John Little, has replaced an older building.
This is a fascinating arial view, taken at about the same time as the previous views. Clockwise, from left, you can see the Mercantile bank, Union Bank, Raffles Chambers, Charted Bank (on the right) and John Little (from behind). Somewhere in the foreground is the wonderful old Change Alley.
This view was taken around 1940, according to my notes. Not much change from previous views, but the sign on the shop on the right now says "Frankel" rather than "A. Ribero".
We have moved forward in time to 1950. There are a couple of noteworthy changes in this scene. Raffles Chambers has now lost its gables, possible a result of Japanese bombing, and the shop to its right now has a modern facade.
At the other end of the square, not much has changed in this c1951 view.
It's around 1952, and Raffles Chambers is now branded as the famous Robinson's department store.
Early 1950s, and a classic view of the square. Within a couple of years this view will be changed by the towering Bank of China building.
In 1954 the Asia Insurance building (left, background) was erected on Collyer Quay. At the time, it was the tallest skyscraper in south-east Asia.
Still in the 1950s, I think, and the trees that were planted in the 1930s are maturing nicely. Another modern facade has appeared on the right, and the cars appear in colours other than black! The Chartered Bank building has been extended to the right. Visible in the distance are the Cathay Building, the Supreme Court, The Victoria Hall and St. Andrew's Cathedral.
From a slightly different angle we now see the Bank of China building (behind John Little), completed in 1954.
Sometime in the 1960s, Raffles Place was landscaped with gardens and fountains.
Looking the other way, the big writing on Robinson's says "Merry Christmas".
I would guess that this is the late 1970s or early 1980s. The trees have grown considerably, and skyscrapers now fill the skyline. The Mercantile Bank and Union Bank buildings are still in place, but Robinson's (formerly Raffles Chambers) has gone, burnt down in a tragic fire.
We have jumped forward about 20 years to 1999. The view is completely unrecognisable.

Contact me at TimLight99@hotmail.com Return to Home Page