Singapore bicentennial: An island's journey

Singapore bicentennial: Why 2019 is history in the making

The arrival of the British in 1819 set in motion Singapore's development into a trading port and modern metropolis. Insight looks at the significance of the bicentennial, and how it marks a chance to more fully appreciate Singapore's rich history before then

Left: Before the pubs and restaurants moved in, coolies along the banks of the Singapore River in 1960 looked to storytellers for entertainment. Scenes from The Bicentennial Experience at Fort Canning Centre will include a depiction of Raffles and hi
An artist's impression of the Victoria Concert Hall site in the 14th century depicting a busy marketplace, a small cottage industry for copper or metal work and residences. PHOTO: LIM CHEN SIAN, AARON KAO
Left: Before the pubs and restaurants moved in, coolies along the banks of the Singapore River in 1960 looked to storytellers for entertainment. Scenes from The Bicentennial Experience at Fort Canning Centre will include a depiction of Raffles and hi
Before the pubs and restaurants moved in, coolies along the banks of the Singapore River in 1960 looked to storytellers for entertainment. PHOTO: NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF SINGAPORE
Left: Before the pubs and restaurants moved in, coolies along the banks of the Singapore River in 1960 looked to storytellers for entertainment. Scenes from The Bicentennial Experience at Fort Canning Centre will include a depiction of Raffles and hi
A view of the city skyline with the ArtScience Museum awash in light. Across Singapore, people are relooking, documenting and presenting stories and lesser-known histories this year as part of a packed bicentennial calendar. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
A year of activities will mark the 200th anniversary of the British arrival in Singapore this year. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in announcing the plans, said 1819 marked a turning point: “Because of Raffles, Singapore became a British colony, a free port and a modern city.” But he also called on Singaporeans to “understand truly how far back our history reaches, and how complex it is”. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR
Archaeologist Lim Chen Sian (standing) led the 2015 Empress Place dig, which unearthed 14th-century imperial-grade jade ceramics. ST FILE PHOTO
Human teeth found by Mr Lim and his team on the grounds of Victoria Concert Hall in 2011. The teeth were from early inhabitants of Singapore. PHOTO: LIM CHEN SIAN
Artefacts found in the Empress Place dig include a glazed 14th-century stoneware jarlet (above) and an imperial-grade ceramic vessel. PHOTO: NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD
Artefacts found in the Empress Place dig include a glazed 14th-century stoneware jarlet and an imperial-grade ceramic vessel (above) . PHOTO: NATIONAL HERITAGE BOARD
Melody Zaccheus
Housing and Heritage Correspondent
Updated
Feb 09, 2019, 07:18 AM
Published
Jan 27, 2019, 05:00 AM
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To some Singaporeans, the bicentennial - which marks the 200th anniversary of the British arrival - does not make much sense to them.

Twenty-six-year-old Michael Chen, who works in the petrochemical industry, laments: "I don't understand why we are celebrating something that predates our modern history as the Republic of Singapore.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on January 27, 2019, with the headline Singapore bicentennial: Why 2019 is history in the making . Subscribe

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