Three buildings in Queenstown to be conserved

SINGAPORE — Three buildings in Queenstown will be conserved as part of the upcoming Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA’s) master plan.

The buildings are Queenstown Public Library, former Commonwealth Avenue Wet Market and Alexandra Hospital.

This was announced by Acting Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin at the URA Architectural Heritage Awards today (Oct 3).

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Tan said the Queenstown library is Singapore’s first branch library and is well used by many of the area’s residents.

Mr Tan said that its conservation will ensure its longevity as a community touchstone and gathering place.

Likewise, the former Commonwealth Avenue Wet Market is well known to residents and visitors to Queenstown.

Mr Tan said the market remains a marker of important changes — a reminder of when travelling hawkers were first housed in food centres serving the suburban public housing estates.

Alexandra Hospital has also been a stage to significant scenes from Singapore’s history.

At various times, it served the medical needs of the British Armed Forces, was overrun by Japanese troops, and it was also where the first successful limb re-attachment in Southeast Asia was performed.

Mr Tan said all three buildings are important representations of what conservation can do to reinforce a community’s identity and preserve its flavor for past, present and future residents.

Three other buildings in Queenstown have already been conserved — Princess House, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament and Anchor Brewery. CHANNEL NEWSASIA