On This Date In 1927, St James Power Station Officially Sparked Into Action
On this day 97 years ago (7 Nov 1927), Singapore’s very first power station, St James Power Station, officially began operation, changing our cityscape forever.
Located in Keppel Road near the entrance to Sentosa, this coal-powered plant was built by the British to meet the growing demand for electricity in colonial Singapore.
The St James Power Station at night. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Powering up Singapore
St James was a marvel of its time. The idea sparked in 1923, with the municipal commissioners set on lighting up our city-state. By late 1924, construction started at Cape St James, an ideal spot by the sea that allowed coal to be shipped right to its door.
The power station went "live" on 1 Jun 1927. It was officially opened on 7 Nov the same year, officiated by Sir Hugh Clifford, the 19th governor of the Straits Settlements.
But it had its quirks. Frequent blackouts and power issues kept St James staff on their toes. The plant even endured some serious shutdowns. In 1928, a minor slip-up by engineers temporarily dimmed its lights, and in 1948, a generator breakdown led to an 8.5-hour outage that left most of Singapore in the dark. In 1950, Singapore suffered the worst blackout in its history.
Much-needed upgrades
By the mid-1950s, St James Power Station was struggling to keep up with Singapore’s power needs.
In 1960, it got a much-needed facelift, with new machines boosting output by 18,000 kilowatts. But as modern power plants like Pasir Panjang and Jurong took over, St James gradually wound down. By 1976, the station had fully retired.
But its legacy didn’t end there.
The St James Power Station hosting a party in 2009. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
From power station to party central
St James Power Station transformed into something no one saw coming – Singapore’s very first multi-concept entertainment hub.
In 2006, local nightlife mogul Dennis Foo took on the project and together with other investors including state-owned Mapletree Investments, put in $40 million into the historic site (with $20 million set aside for conservation).
St James reopened its doors with a new vibe, hosting everything from live music to dining across 12 unique outlets. It even had a massive outdoor concert space, ready to host over 10,000 party-goers. The red-brick facade and iconic tinted-glass panels were preserved, blending old-world charm with a buzzing nightlife atmosphere.
In 2009, the National Heritage Board gazetted St James as a National Monument, and a year later, it snagged the prestigious URA Architectural Heritage Award.
Today, the building serves as tech company Dyson’s global HQ and research centre. If you’re interested in learning more about the power station’s history, book a free tour of its heritage gallery. Click here for a sneak peek of what’s inside!
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