Hillview, Singapore
Encyclopedia
Hillview is a private residential district nestled in the northwest of Singapore, overlooking Bukit Timah Hill and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. The Nature Reserve was established in 1883. By 2014, an eco-link bridge will generate greater bio-diversity by connecting both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
From the early 1940s to the late 1980s, Hillview was a semi-industrial area with facilities such as Old Ford Motor Factory
(built in 1941), Castrol Oil Company and Cycle & Carriage Daimler-Benz car assembly plant (built in 1965). Subsequently, these facilities (other than the old Ford Motor factory, which was gazetted as a national monument) made way for new private residential developments.
Located just beside Bukit Timah
Hill, the area witnessed one of the fiercest military encounters during World War II
as the Bukit Timah area held strategic and tactical importance to both the Japanese and the British. The Ford Motor Factory most notably served as the venue on 15 February 1942 for the formal surrender of Malaya Peninsula by the British Commander Officer, Lt-Gen. Arthur Ernest Percival, to the Japanese Commander of the 25th Army, Gen. Yamashita Tomoyuki.
One can also find the Old Bukit Timah Fire Station here. Built in 1956, this was the 4th fire station of Singapore, after the Central Fire Station at Hill Street and the ones in Geylang and Alexandra.
In 1929, the Cold Storage Company bought 24 hectares stretch of forested land across Hillview. This area became known as Dairy Farm, named after the company's dairy farm business, which supplied the supermarket company with locally produced fresh milk. It has now been converted into Dairy Farm Nature Park. At the southern end of the park lies the Singapore quarry, where visitors can relax and enjoy the picturesque view.
Since the 19th century, Bukit Timah Hill and its surrounding area, which is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, have been regarded as the perfect sanctuary and getaway for the European expatriates in Singapore.
Bukit Timah Hill was once an active quarrying site in the mid-20th century. Hindhede Quarry, named after the Danish civil engineer, Jens Hindhede, once operated a granite quarry until it ceased operations around late 1980s. It has since been converted into Hindhede Nature Park and is a popular spot where visitors come to enjoy its scenic beauty.
The KTM Malayan Railway
used to operate passenger and freight services that ply through Hillview from Malaysia in the north to Tanjong Pagar station in the south.
Princess Elizabeth Estate, which was located near Hillview Avenue's Elizabeth Drive, was built around 1951 to commemorate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) to Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh) in 1947.
There was also Housing Development Board (HDB) estates built around 1979 at the north end of Hillview, with a community centre, a wet market, a hawker centre and some neighbourhood shops. In 1999, the government announced that the HDB estate would be relocated to Bukit Gombak
via the largest Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme
(SERS). The residents started the relocation in 2003-2005. By late 2005, the HDB estates were demolished.
Today, as one of the affluent residential areas in Singapore, the Hillview residences boast several private condominiums and landed properties. It is served by restaurants & delicatessen, watering holes (e.g. Harry's), cafes, and convenience stores (e.g. Cold Storage) at The Rail Mall. A new commercial shopping mall at the beginning of Hillview Avenue is due to be completed by 2014.
By 2015, Hillview will be served by the upcoming Hillview MRT Station
via the Downtown Line.
From the early 1940s to the late 1980s, Hillview was a semi-industrial area with facilities such as Old Ford Motor Factory
Old Ford Motor Factory
The Old Ford Motor Factory is a historic building in Singapore, located along Upper Bukit Timah Road.-History:The factory is the site of the historic surrender of the British to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, at the end of the Battle of Singapore in World War II...
(built in 1941), Castrol Oil Company and Cycle & Carriage Daimler-Benz car assembly plant (built in 1965). Subsequently, these facilities (other than the old Ford Motor factory, which was gazetted as a national monument) made way for new private residential developments.
Located just beside Bukit Timah
Bukit Timah
Bukit Timah is an area in Singapore and a hill in that area. Bukit Timah is located near the centre of the Singapore main island. The hill stands at an altitude of 163.63 metres and is the highest point in the city-state of Singapore...
Hill, the area witnessed one of the fiercest military encounters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as the Bukit Timah area held strategic and tactical importance to both the Japanese and the British. The Ford Motor Factory most notably served as the venue on 15 February 1942 for the formal surrender of Malaya Peninsula by the British Commander Officer, Lt-Gen. Arthur Ernest Percival, to the Japanese Commander of the 25th Army, Gen. Yamashita Tomoyuki.
One can also find the Old Bukit Timah Fire Station here. Built in 1956, this was the 4th fire station of Singapore, after the Central Fire Station at Hill Street and the ones in Geylang and Alexandra.
In 1929, the Cold Storage Company bought 24 hectares stretch of forested land across Hillview. This area became known as Dairy Farm, named after the company's dairy farm business, which supplied the supermarket company with locally produced fresh milk. It has now been converted into Dairy Farm Nature Park. At the southern end of the park lies the Singapore quarry, where visitors can relax and enjoy the picturesque view.
Since the 19th century, Bukit Timah Hill and its surrounding area, which is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, have been regarded as the perfect sanctuary and getaway for the European expatriates in Singapore.
Bukit Timah Hill was once an active quarrying site in the mid-20th century. Hindhede Quarry, named after the Danish civil engineer, Jens Hindhede, once operated a granite quarry until it ceased operations around late 1980s. It has since been converted into Hindhede Nature Park and is a popular spot where visitors come to enjoy its scenic beauty.
The KTM Malayan Railway
Keretapi Tanah Melayu
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad or Malayan Railways Limited is the main rail operator in Peninsular Malaysia. The railway system dates back to the British colonial era, when it was first built to transport tin...
used to operate passenger and freight services that ply through Hillview from Malaysia in the north to Tanjong Pagar station in the south.
Princess Elizabeth Estate, which was located near Hillview Avenue's Elizabeth Drive, was built around 1951 to commemorate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) to Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh) in 1947.
There was also Housing Development Board (HDB) estates built around 1979 at the north end of Hillview, with a community centre, a wet market, a hawker centre and some neighbourhood shops. In 1999, the government announced that the HDB estate would be relocated to Bukit Gombak
Bukit Gombak
Bukit Gombak is a neighbourhood in the west-central area of the Southeast Asian city-state of Singapore. In the Malay language, bukit means hill and gombak a bunch or collection of something....
via the largest Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme
Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme
The Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, or SERS for short, is an urban redevelopment strategy employed by the Housing and Development Board in Singapore in maintaining and upgrading public housing flats in older estates in the city-state...
(SERS). The residents started the relocation in 2003-2005. By late 2005, the HDB estates were demolished.
Today, as one of the affluent residential areas in Singapore, the Hillview residences boast several private condominiums and landed properties. It is served by restaurants & delicatessen, watering holes (e.g. Harry's), cafes, and convenience stores (e.g. Cold Storage) at The Rail Mall. A new commercial shopping mall at the beginning of Hillview Avenue is due to be completed by 2014.
By 2015, Hillview will be served by the upcoming Hillview MRT Station
Hillview MRT Station
Hillview MRT station is an underground Mass Rapid Transit station on the Downtown Line Stage 2 in Singapore, formerly known as the Bukit Timah Line. The station will serve the Upper Bukit Timah corridor at the junction between Upper Bukit Timah Road and Hillview Avenue...
via the Downtown Line.