The National Heritage Board’s 19^th heritage trail celebrates the rich history of Singapore’s coastal paradise.

Back when there wasn’t a Wild Wild Wet or a Downtown East, many Singaporeans would unwind at the Golden Palace Holiday Resort – one of many recreational options in Pasir Ris. In the late 1960s and ’70s, it was a popular place where Singaporeans would go for food, drinks, music, parties, fishing, boating and picnics. Pasir Ris has a long history as a destination for leisure and play that stretches back to the late 1800s.

The name “Pasir Ris” is believed to be derived from the Malay words “pasir” and “hiris”, which mean “sand” and “to slice or shred” respectively. The area is the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) newest heritage trail that hopes to show how the area’s history is inextricably linked to its coastline and proximity to the sea.

Alvin Tan, deputy chief executive (Policy & Community), NHB, said: “Through the trail, Singaporeans will find out how Pasir Ris earned its reputation as a town for rest and recreation, and how it evolved from a getaway destination for the affluent to an affordable resort-like retreat for holiday-makers from all walks of life. In addition, they will also learn about the lesser-known stories of Pasir Ris’ natural heritage, kampong communities, landmark institutions and iconic housing features.”

Consisting of 23 heritage sites with seven trail markers, the Pasir Ris Heritage Trail – NHB’s 19th heritage trail – is part of NHB’s ongoing efforts to document and promote the distinct histories and social memories of different areas where Singaporeans live, work and play. In celebrating Pasir Ris’ heritage, the trail features contributions from the community, and presents stories, memories and photographs of past and present Pasir Ris residents.

Pasir Ris’ beginnings as a location for a getaway can be traced to the 19th century, where families would retreat to holiday bungalows for fresh air, away from the bustling city centre. Prominent entrepreneur Joseph Elias built his two-storied, 12-bedroom bungalow along Pasir Ris’ sandy 3.2-km coastline. This bungalow was later redeveloped into Pasir Ris’ first hotel – Pasir Ris Hotel – then billed as the “ideal seaside resort”, boasting a variety of recreational activities. The popularity of Pasir Ris’ beaches grew, and an ever-increasing number of people headed there for a respite from the daily grind of urban life – underscoring the growing importance of public recreational spaces as the country developed.

The establishment of Pasir Ris Hotel paved the way for a succession of beachfront developments – the Golden Palace Holiday Resort, an 11-acre resort which featured a fishing and boating pond converted from a former sand quarry; Villa Saujana, a two-acre dining and entertainment village where tourists could feast on Malay cuisine while enjoying dance performances; Dari Laut, a museum that displayed sea shells and corals, as well as other marine life taxidermy; and the former People’s Association Holiday Camp and Holiday Flats, which were built to meet the recreational needs of the average Singaporean.

Today, Pasir Ris continues to be home to various recreational facilities, including Singapore’s only commercial saltwater fishing pond, operated by D’Best Recreation in Pasir Ris Town Park, which is the same pond that was part of the Golden Palace Holiday Resort. The pond was said to be well-known as a place to catch marine fish, prawns and crabs many years ago. Coupled with facilities like the PAssion WaVe @ Pasir Ris, a specialist community club offering water sports such as dinghy sailing and kayaking; Wild Wild Wet; and even a bumboat-themed HDB playground, Pasir Ris’ recreational facilities are products of its coastal heritage.

Beyond its reputation for fun and relaxation, Pasir Ris also boasts rich natural heritage in the form of beaches and mangroves. In the days before public housing and planned residential estates, the Pasir Ris coast, along with Sungei Api Api and other rivers and streams, supported the lives of residents of the many kampongs around them. Kampong residents relied heavily on their rich natural resources, in particular, shrimp – the backbone of the burgeoning belacan (fermented shrimp paste) cottage industry then.

As former kampong resident Jamilah binte Abdul Salam recalls fondly: “We used to go to the beach to catch shrimp to make cincalok (fermented shrimp sauce) and belacan. We would make them for (the family) to eat and also to sell to our neighbours (in Kampong Loyang).”

Other highlights of the Pasir Ris Heritage Trail include the religious institutions that were established to serve the community in the area. These include the Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple, originally a makeshift shrine near the Loyang coastline and popular for devotees praying for health and prosperity; Sakya Tenphel Ling, one of the first Tibetan Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia; Masjid Al-Lstighfar, one of the few mosques in Singapore that is open for 24 hours a day; and the Pentecost Methodist Church, founded to reach out to the Peranakan community, with services conducted in the Peranakan patois, Baba Malay, to this day.

The Pasir Ris Heritage Trail has three thematic routes:

• Coastal Heritage – A one-hour route (30 minutes on bicycle) that brings visitors to sites of heritage significance along the Pasir Ris’ coast and beachfront including Pasir Ris Park, kelongs, Elephant Playground, Sungei Api Api, etc. (3.5 km)
• Play @ Pasir Ris – A one-hour route that takes visitors through sites of recreation in Pasir Ris, including one of Singapore’s largest playgrounds and the country’s only commercial saltwater fishing pond. The places including the Pasir Ris Park Playground, Bumboat Playground and Pasir Ris Hawker Centre. (4.5 km)
• Architectural Highlights – A 1.5-hour route that explores the built environment of Pasir Ris Town, from its maritime-themed public housing blocks to its diverse range of cultural and religious institutions. This includes the Pasir Ris Town Park, lighthouse-shaped facades, Loyang Tua Pek Kong Temple, Sakya Tenphel Ling and Masjid Al-Lstighfar. (5.6 km)

The Pasir Ris Heritage Trail’s companion and can be downloaded from NHB’s heritage portal, Roots.sg. Printed copies of the guide will also be available at NHB museums, as well as Our Tampines Gallery at Our Tampines Hub. To find out more information, please visit: https://roots.sg/visit/trails. There are currently 19 available heritage trails developed by NHB including Bukit Timah Heritage Trail, Yishun-Sembawang Heritage Trail, Ang Mo Kio Heritage Trail, Balestier Heritage Trail, Jalan Besar Heritage Trail, Kampong Glam Heritage Trail, World War II Heritage Trail, Tiong Bahru Heritage Trail, Queenstown Heritage Trail, Resilience Trails, Toa Payoh Heritage Trail, Jurong Heritage Trail, Singapore River Walk, Jubilee Walk, Bedok Heritage Trail, Little India Heritage Trail, Tampines Heritage Trail, Orchard Heritage Trail and Pasir Ris Heritage Trail.

 

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