Tanjong Pagar (alternatively spelled Tanjung Pagar) is a historic district located within the Central Business District of Singapore, straddling the Outram Planning Area and the Downtown Core under the Urban Redevelopment Authority's urban planning zones. The district has a rich history and is known for its cultural and architectural landmarks, making it a popular tourist destination.
The name comes from the Malay language, which means "cape of stakes". It is said that the area was once covered with mangroves, and the stakes were used by fishermen to mark their fishing boundaries, as it was a fishing village. Today, the district is a vibrant mix of old and new buildings, which creates an interesting contrast. One of the most iconic landmarks in Tanjong Pagar is the Tanjong Pagar railway station. Built in 1932, it ceased operations in 2011. The station, with a distinct art deco style has been repurposed into a museum as well as being the site of Cantonment MRT station, named after Cantonment Road.
Notable landmarks in Tanjong Pagar also include the Thian Hock Keng Temple, which was gazetted as a national monument in 1973. It is one of the oldest temples in Singapore and was built in the early 19th century. There is also the Baba House, a museum showcasing the country's Peranakan history, architecture and heritage. Tanjong Pagar is also known for its local street art. Prominent street art murals are often found on the sides of various shophouses and buildings within the district, adding a colorful and artistic flair to the district. There are two public housing estates in Tanjong Pagar, located at Everton Park and Spottiswoode Park; these were built from the 1970s to the 1980s. Tanjong Pagar also contains both the tallest public housing building, the Pinnacle@Duxton, and the tallest building outright, the Guoco Tower, in the country.
In addition to its cultural and architectural landmarks, Tanjong Pagar is also a foodie's paradise. The district is home to a diverse range of eateries, from hawker centers such as the Amoy and Maxwell Food Centres to high-end restaurants. Tanjong Pagar has a number of restaurants and stalls with Michelin Bib Gourmand awards. A number of Korean restaurants has also popped up along Tanjong Pagar Road within the last few decades, leading to it being described as the Little Korea of Singapore.
History
The area of what Tanjong Pagar is now was said to be initially a fishing village called Salinter.
From the 1600s, Tanjong Pagar, located between the docks and the town, was an enclave for the thousands of Chinese and Indian dock workers who had migrated to Singapore from the mid-19th century.
Tanjong Pagar (Jawi: تنجوڠ ڤاڬر) in Malay means "cape of stakes", possibly due to kelongs (offshore fishing traps constructed using wooden stakes and cross pieces) along the coast from the village of Tanjong Malang till Tanjong Pagar. In George Drumgoole Coleman's 1836 Map of the Town, there is a road, Tanjong Passar, from South Bridge Road to the fishing village and there is a possibility that Tanjong Pagar is a corruption of the Tanjong Passar.
According to the Malay Annals, the villages along the coast of Singapore was constantly attacked by shoals of swordfish. The Sri Maharajah, on the advice of a boy, Hang Nadim, built a defensive structure of banana stems along the coastal side of the villages which trapped the swordfishes as they attacked the villages.
During the 1820s, a man who had unsuccessfully stabbed William Farquhar with a kris, Sayid Yasin, had his corpse placed in chains in an iron cage and exhibited publicly at Tanjong Malang for a fortnight as punishment for the stabbing. His grave later became a shrine and a place of pilgrimage for many years.
In the 1850s, when shipping activities increased, the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company was formed in 1864 along with wharves being built along the coast. This led to the possibly naming the area as Tanjong Pagar where Tanjong means "cape" and pagar means "fence" or enclosed space as the ships are moored in the wharves. Tanjong Pagar likely refer to the general area of PSA Gate 3 near the Victoria Dock.
Tanjong Pagar Road is known as tan jiong pa kat in Hokkien (Min Nan), which is phonetic.
Points of interest
Tras Street
The street name "Tras Street" dates from an 1898 municipal resolution to "use names of rivers and districts in the Malay Peninsula as being better adapted to the purpose [of naming streets] than the names of persons or families."
Tras Street today is a thriving night spot featuring many pubs, clubs and KTV bars.