Chinatown Historical Street

Chinatown Historical Street

Ann Siang Street

In the early days of the settlement, clove and nutmeg plantations were established in many parts of the island, including the Ann Siang and Duxton Hill areas. Charles Scott was the first to plant these crops on Ann Siang Hill, which was originally named after him. Ann Siang Hill was superbly irigated; an underground spring ran through the area and was tapped from a well on the hill. But abundant fresh water was not enough to sustain the plantations. A series of terrible blights decimated clove and nutmeg plantations across the island, causing many plantations owners to abandon their land.

After Scott left his plantation, it passed through the hands of another owner before being sold to Chia Ann Siang in 1894. From then on, the face of Ann Siang Hill changed forever. Shophouses sprang up; Chinese and Straits Chinese residents and businesses moved in and the area was transformed into an urban district. All that left of the old Ann Siang Hill was Scotts’ plantation house, which Chia kept as his family residence. The new profile of the area included clan associations and exclusive social clubs, such as the Chinese Weekly Entertainment Club and the Ee Hoe Hean Club.

Mount Erskine

A hill once stood in the vicinity of Maxwell Road called Mount Erskine, it was named after J.J. Erskine, a member of the Penang government council, who probably resided on this hill in 1824. However, popular belief, perhaps erroneous, ascribes Mount Erskine to Mr Samuel Erskine of Howarth Erskine & Co., a well-known engineering firm of the 1870s. Erskine Hill was subsequently acquired and developed by Chia Ann Siang, owner of Ann Siang Hill, in the late 19^th century.

Mount Erskine is best known for its health and social welfare services. After thre Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), malnutrition and tuberculosis were at their highest levels, especially amongst children. To combat this, the Social Welfare Department started meal centres at several locations on the island, one of which was at Mount Erskine. Volunteer groups providing basic education skills begin offering their services near the meal centres, reaching out to the large groups of needy children who gathered there. St. Andrew’s Mission Hospital was at Erskine Road from 1923nto 1948. Today, the mission runs a community hospital on Eliot Road in the eastern area of Singapore.