Sembawang Park
Encyclopedia
Sembawang Park is a 15 hectare park situated in Sembawang
, in the north of Singapore
facing the Straits of Johor
overlooking Malaysia. It is located at the end of Sembawang Road, where the former Sembawang Road End Bus Terminal is.
Kayea ferruginea. There is one Sembawang tree at the centre of the car park C1 close to the Sembawang Bus terminal. The Sembawang park has many interesting connections to Singapore's historical past. The pathways inside the park are old roads, that have recently been repaved with asphalt.
from 1920s until Singapore's independence. The busy and geographically advantaged port in Singapore and the urgent need for a naval base made the British decide to establish a Naval Base in Singapore. In 1923, the construction of Naval Base began in Sembawang and completed in 1938. In between it slowed down due to Naval Disarmament Treaty. The fully operational Naval Base was opened by Sir Shenton Thomas
, the then Singapore Governor on 14 February 1938; it was the largest Dockyard outside the British Naval Base. The battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse
with four destroyers forming the "Z" force landed in Singapore's Naval Base on 2 December 1941. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese also bought Johore coastlines just opposite the Naval Base and attacked the two warships unexpectedly. The two unsinkable war cruisers sank on 10 December 1941, on whose memory a Sembawang Memorial was unveiled in Sembawang wharfs in 2005.
The Dockyard was closed down in January 1942 realizing that Japanese could use the Naval Base. The British surrendered to Japanese on 15 February 1942, whose details could be found much more from Memories at Old Ford Factory museum
where the surrender was signed. For the following three years, till 1945, the Japan
ese used the naval base to service and repair their navy ships. On 6 September 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the British in Sembawang fleet shore accommodation, now called HMS Terror
. From 1968, the naval base was converted and came to use as Sembawang Shipyard. The attacks and operations of the Naval Base at Sembawang, are closely connected to the Jetty, Pier and accommodation at the Sembawang Park itself.
. The Labrador beach is also natural, but rocky shore.
. It houses a seaside restaurant and venue for weddings and parties.
The Navy museum preserves a collection of Singapore's navy and also the Royal Navy. The museum contains historical exhibits of the Naval Base, photographs, badges, medals, documents and nautical objects.
The Andrew Avenue just West to the Sembawang Road traces a calm secluded road to Bottle Tree Village. On the way, is Melayu Perempatan Masjid built in 1970s, surrounded by remnants of air raid shelters and lush secondary vegetation.
Remnants of air raid shelters could also be found in Maltat Crescent.
The Old Admiralty House which is one of 52 national monuments of Singapore
, is present 3.5 km away from the park in Old Nelson Road. The 'arts and crafts' style building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens is now a spa
resort known as the Admiral Hill Country Club. The Sembawang memorial is present at the Sembawang wharfs which was opened in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and in memory of the brave men of the two HMS war cruisers which sunk during the Japanese attack in 1941.
station is Sembawang MRT Station
. The park is accessible via SMRT
bus service 882 which loops at former Sembawang Road End Terminal.Before Sembawang Bus Interchange
was opened in December 2005,Service 167 used to terminate there.
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
, in the north of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
facing the Straits of Johor
Straits of Johor
The Straits of Johor is a strait that separates the Malaysian state of Johor to the north from Singapore to the south....
overlooking Malaysia. It is located at the end of Sembawang Road, where the former Sembawang Road End Bus Terminal is.
History
Sembawang Park gets its name from Sembawang TreeKayea ferruginea
Kayea ferruginea is a plant belonging to Calophyllaceae family; It was renamed as Mesua ferruginea and references from 1980s refer to K...
Kayea ferruginea. There is one Sembawang tree at the centre of the car park C1 close to the Sembawang Bus terminal. The Sembawang park has many interesting connections to Singapore's historical past. The pathways inside the park are old roads, that have recently been repaved with asphalt.
Singapore Naval Base
To the west of the park is the Sembawang Shipyard, which was His Majesty's Naval Base (H M Naval Base) of the British Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
from 1920s until Singapore's independence. The busy and geographically advantaged port in Singapore and the urgent need for a naval base made the British decide to establish a Naval Base in Singapore. In 1923, the construction of Naval Base began in Sembawang and completed in 1938. In between it slowed down due to Naval Disarmament Treaty. The fully operational Naval Base was opened by Sir Shenton Thomas
Shenton Thomas
Sir Thomas Shenton Whitelegge Thomas, GCMG, GCStJ was the last Governor of the Straits Settlements, 1934–1942 during which time World War II began. He died at age 82...
, the then Singapore Governor on 14 February 1938; it was the largest Dockyard outside the British Naval Base. The battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse
HMS Repulse (1916)
HMS Repulse was a Renown-class battlecruiser of the Royal Navy built during the First World War. She was originally laid down as an improved version of the s. Her construction was suspended on the outbreak of war on the grounds she would not be ready in a timely manner...
with four destroyers forming the "Z" force landed in Singapore's Naval Base on 2 December 1941. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, the Japanese also bought Johore coastlines just opposite the Naval Base and attacked the two warships unexpectedly. The two unsinkable war cruisers sank on 10 December 1941, on whose memory a Sembawang Memorial was unveiled in Sembawang wharfs in 2005.
The Dockyard was closed down in January 1942 realizing that Japanese could use the Naval Base. The British surrendered to Japanese on 15 February 1942, whose details could be found much more from Memories at Old Ford Factory museum
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...
where the surrender was signed. For the following three years, till 1945, the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese used the naval base to service and repair their navy ships. On 6 September 1945, the Japanese surrendered to the British in Sembawang fleet shore accommodation, now called HMS Terror
HMS Terror
Nine ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Terror:*HMS Terror was a 4-gun bomb vessel launched in 1696, and captured and burnt by the French in 1704.*HMS Terror was a 14-gun bomb vessel launched in 1741 and sold in 1754....
. From 1968, the naval base was converted and came to use as Sembawang Shipyard. The attacks and operations of the Naval Base at Sembawang, are closely connected to the Jetty, Pier and accommodation at the Sembawang Park itself.
Sembawang Jetty
In 1940s, the British started building this 30 m long jetty, and later abandoned it during Japanese occupation. The Japanese completed the construction of the jetty. Thus the private jetty stands in complete shape only from the efforts of these once warring colonial forces. Now, it is a popular fishing ground.Seletar Pier
Seletar Pier was used for transport of construction materials during Naval Base construction in early 1920s. On 20 January, 1942, the pier was bombed by Japanese, and only the remains of the Seletar pier stands at the end of Sembawang Road.Sembawang Beach
Sembawang Beach is one of the few natural sandy beaches remaining in Singapore. The other natural sandy beach is ChangiChangi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
. The Labrador beach is also natural, but rocky shore.
The Beaulieu House
The Beaulieu House is a house built in 1910s, as a seaside house for a David family. When the Sembawang naval base construction began in 1923, the British took over the house. It served as a residence for the senior engineers during construction, and during operation of the Naval Base, the senior officers resided at the Beaulieu House. Admiral Layton, the most senior Naval Officer in Singapore lived in this house for the periods of two years from 1940-42. He also hosted tennis parties near the house. Post war, it served as residence of Senior Fleet Officers like the Chief of Staff, who return the salute at the Sembawang Jetty right in front of the house. Now, the house is gazetted as a Conservation Area by the Urban Redevelopment AuthorityUrban Redevelopment Authority
The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the national urban planning authority of Singapore, and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Singapore Government.-Mission:The authority was established on 1 April 1974, and is of especially critical importance to the city-state,...
. It houses a seaside restaurant and venue for weddings and parties.
Surrounding areas of interest
The Sembawang park and its surrounding areas are surrounded by sites where there was the Kampong Wak Hassan, with old Malay Kampong houses and many roads with old black and white colonial houses. There are around 20 roads which are named after the British colonies like Delhi Road, Pakistan Road, Kenya Crescent, Madras Road, Africa Road and so on.The Navy museum preserves a collection of Singapore's navy and also the Royal Navy. The museum contains historical exhibits of the Naval Base, photographs, badges, medals, documents and nautical objects.
The Andrew Avenue just West to the Sembawang Road traces a calm secluded road to Bottle Tree Village. On the way, is Melayu Perempatan Masjid built in 1970s, surrounded by remnants of air raid shelters and lush secondary vegetation.
Remnants of air raid shelters could also be found in Maltat Crescent.
The Old Admiralty House which is one of 52 national monuments of Singapore
National Monuments of Singapore
National Monuments of Singapore are buildings and structures in Singapore that have been designated by the Preservation of Monuments Board as being of special historic, traditional, archaeological, architectural or artistic value....
, is present 3.5 km away from the park in Old Nelson Road. The 'arts and crafts' style building designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens is now a spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
resort known as the Admiral Hill Country Club. The Sembawang memorial is present at the Sembawang wharfs which was opened in 2005 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II and in memory of the brave men of the two HMS war cruisers which sunk during the Japanese attack in 1941.
Fauna and flora
There are more than 40 bird species recorded in that area by Nature Society of Singapore http://habitatnews.nus.edu.sg/heritage/sembawang/birdsightings.html. The cannonball tree is an attraction in the park, though non native. The fruits are woody and large reminding of cannon balls in size and weight.Getting there
The closest MRTMass Rapid Transit (Singapore)
The Mass Rapid Transit or MRT is a rapid transit system that forms the backbone of the railway system in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro...
station is Sembawang MRT Station
Sembawang MRT Station
Sembawang MRT Station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, and the northernmost MRT Station of the North South Line and part of the Woodlands Extension. It is sited in Sembawang, a residential area which is just over 6 years old and still undergoing development. The first level...
. The park is accessible via SMRT
SMRT Corporation
SMRT Corporation is a public transport operator incorporated on March 6, 2000, as a result of an industry overhaul to form multi-modal public-transport operators in Singapore. It is the second-largest public-transport company in Singapore after ComfortDelGro...
bus service 882 which loops at former Sembawang Road End Terminal.Before Sembawang Bus Interchange
Sembawang Bus Interchange
Sembawang Bus Interchange is a bus station located in Sembawang, Singapore. Opened on 20 November 2005, it provides hassle-free transfer to the nearby Sembawang MRT Station....
was opened in December 2005,Service 167 used to terminate there.
External links
| Service | Destination | Notes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMRT Buses Trunk Services | |||||
| 882 | Sembawang Bus Interchange Sembawang Bus Interchange Sembawang Bus Interchange is a bus station located in Sembawang, Singapore. Opened on 20 November 2005, it provides hassle-free transfer to the nearby Sembawang MRT Station.... |
Loops at Sembawang Road End | |||