GMY Book Contest #3

The first person to identify this place wins a copy of my book, Good Morning Yesterday. Just post your answer in the comments section. Sorry; only local readers can win ….. for obvious reason.

Thanks to Geoffrey Pain for sending me this mid-1960s picture some time ago. I did not post it earlier because I could not find the time to visit this place to confirm if I myself know the correct answer. Anyway, I still am not 100% sure. Which means of course, the judge’s decision is not final.

Some old photos of Mt Faber

Recently I received a complimentary copy of the book, A Ride to Remember, The Story of Mount Faber and Singapore Cable Car from its publishers. The book is about the history of Mount Faber and the Cable Car. It was in appreciation for the permission to use my photo (below).  I take this opportunity to share few other old family photos taken at Mt Faber with you. 

Besides my personal collection, I have also received a few mid-1960’s photos from Geoffrey Pain. He told me that they were taken from Mt Faber.  But they don’t look the view from Mt Faber to me. What do you think?

Old roads quiz (3)

Here are two photos that I received from my UK friends, Russ Wickson and Geoffrey Pain. Photo number 1 should be easy because of the famous landmark in the background; but number 2; taken in the mid-1960s, is a bit tough. I think it is a street nearby. What do you think?

Can you make out the name of the building on the right in the above photo?

Update (23 Jan 2012)

Below are two more photos of this area contributed by Tim Light. That building at the end of the street in Photos 2, can now be seen from a different angle. It looks like my Old Roads Quiz has turned into an Old Buildings Quiz.

National Theatre

Thanks to Geoffrey Pain for these 1960s photos of the National Theatre and the nearby Van Kleef Aquarium. I do not remember having attended any concert at National Theatre. Only recall attending the convocation of elder brother Chun Seong.

News-wise, I recall one year when the Bee Gees performed there and many people could not get tickets and so they went to the hill behind to watch free-of-charge. But they got upset because they could not hear the singing and made a lot of noise. That as far as I recall was what was reported in the newspapers. If you can recall details; do share.

Related posts


1. Victor’s article on National Theatre


2. Victor’s article on Van Kleef Aquarium


3. Seven Wonders of Singapore

Can you identify this kampong?

Below are two photos from Geoff Pain. They were taken in the mid-60’s. Can you help me to identify the location please? It is likely to be in the Upper Serangoon/Bartley/Paya Lebar vicinity? Thanks.

Another one bites the dust – Market Street Car Park

It was reported in the newspapers yesterday that the iconic Market Street Car Park will be demolished soon. According to this Today report, it will be redeveloped into a ‘Grade A office tower’ at a cost of S$1.4 billion. It also says that, built in 1964, this was the first multi-storey public car park to serve the parking needs of the financial district.

Below are two photos of the car park courtesy of Geoffrey Pain. You may not be able to make out the names of the 3 shops on the ground floor in the first photo. They are 海洋 Ocean Garments (OG), Crocodile and The Record Library. On the left is the famous Lau Pa Sat food centre.

Can you identify the street in the second photo?

Here's another photo (circa 1970) from Peter Chan.



Do you have any memories of this Market Street car park?

Roadside fruit stalls

Last month, Geoffrey Pain sent me some photos of roadside fruit stalls of the 60’s. He only knows the location of one of the photos but I think they are all from the same place. What do you think? Where were these photos taken?

Hint: According to Geoffrey, Photo no. 3 (not no. 1) was taken at Queen Street. The place looks familiar but I can't place exactly which part of Queen Street.

Here's a close up view of the car that Peter, Russ and I are debating about (see comments). Is it a Ford Cortina?

Can you identify this street?

I just received these two 1960’s photos from Geoffrey Pain. Can you identify this place? I couldn’t, and that’s why I had to consult my friend Peter Chan. From his answer I was able to check out this place using Google Map’s Street View and give you a “second shot” of this place.

Additional question – What is the name of the tower-like building at the end of the street (left side)?

Can you identify this place?

The photo below was taken around 1965 to 1967 by Geoffrey Pain’s father. Where exactly is this place?

UPDATED – 29 Dec 2010

I think the unanimous answer is: North Pier and Telok Ayer Basin. Most people know about Clifford Pier; but North Pier and South Pier are not so well-known. Further down; at the end of Prince Edward Road was Finger Pier.

Below are 3 more photos showing the same place from different directions. North Pier is the one where there is a building with white roof.

Photo No. 1 – Clifford Pier and North Pier viewed from the East; probably Fullerton Building. (Photo credit: Memories of Singapore)

Photo No. 2 – Aerial photo of Clifford Pier and North Pier viewed from the South. (Photo credit: Memories of Singapore)

Photo No. 3 – Aerial photo of Clifford Pier and North Pier viewed from the West. (Photo credit: National Archives of Singapore)

By the way, does anyone know why the two piers are named North and South Pier? I thought East and West Pier would be more appropriate.

Some things never change (7) – Rubber tapping and processing

Among the photos that Geoffrey Pain sent me are several about rubber tapping and processing. These photos were a gift from a friend to his dad and hence he isn’t sure whether they were taken in Malaysia or Singapore. If you compare them with those taken by me in Yong Peng last year, you will see that things have not changed much in nearly half a century.

Set no. 1 – Geoffrey Pain’s Photos (mid-1960’s)


Set no. 2 – My photos (2009)

Where exactly is this place (1)?

Photo No. 1

Among the photos that Geoffry Pain sent me was this one taken by his dad around 1965 to 67. I have been cracking my head, trying to figure where exactly is this place.

a) The road sign says, Grange Road. Looking through my old street directories, I would guess that the road on the right is Orchard Road. But if this was the junction of Grange Road and Orchard Road, then where is Mandarin Hotel and Orchard Theatre?

b) If this is not the junction of Grange Road and Orchard Road, then what is the name of the road on the right and what is that building in this photo? I know for sure that Orchard Theatre was already up in 1967 because I saw the movie Sound of Music there in 1966 or thereabouts. But I’m not sure about Mandarin Hotel.

Photo No. 2

This 1960 photo of Orchard Road was sent to me by Roger White together with another photo of a Lockheed Super Constellation on the tarmac at Paya Lebar in 1960/61 (which I will share with you another time).

Question: Where exactly is this place?

Old Photos of Singapore River

Last month I received another generous offer from a reader in Britain to share his collection of old photos of Singapore with us.

“During 1965 to 1967 I was fortunate to live in Singapore (I was fifteen when I arrived and seventeen when I left) my father being in the RAF was stationed there. During this time he was stationed at RAF Seletar but worked at JATCC (Joint Air Traffic Control Centre) at Paya Lebar Airport. On arriving in Singapore we lived at The New Country Hotel (which I think no longer exists) before moving to 5 Eden Grove, Singapore 19 for the rest of our stay. As far as I know the house still exists and is now a nursery.

During our time in Singapore my father took many slides which I am now scanning and transferring to my computer. Looking at images on the Internet, Singapore has changed beyond all recognition and with this in mind I would like to send you some images as I come across them that I think you might find interesting as after my day these images will no doubt be thrown away.”

Geoffrey Pain

On behalf of readers of Good Morning Yesterday, I thank you Geoffrey. Below are three of Geoffrey’s photos of the Singapore River.

While I am at it, I might as well show you some photos of the Singapore River from even further back in time; this time courtesy of Jacques Lahitte. You may recall that Jacques’ photos were taken by his father Antoine who visited Singapore sometime in 1951 or 52.

Related posts:

1) Old Buildings Quiz # 11
2) http://goodmorningyesterday.blogspot.com/2010/06/then-and-now-marine-police-station.html