National Monuments Of Singapore: Former City Hall
What is a National Monument? Who gazettes them? How many national monuments are there in Singapore? To date, the Preservation of Sites and Monuments, a division of National Heritage Board, has identified and gazetted 75 buildings, structures and sites of national significance as an integral part of Singapore’s built heritage.
And we're here to tell you all about them - one National Monument at a time!
You've probably passed by or stepped into more than a few of them without realising they were National Monuments: Al-Abrar Mosque, Asian Civilisations Museum, the Civilian War Memorial, Saint Andrew's Cathedral, the Esplanade Park Memorials, Fort Siloso on Sentosa - no need to plan an itinerary for friends visiting from overseas; just show them this article ✌️
In this edition, we delve deeper into a historied building: the Former City Hall. It housed the Japanese forces after the Fall of Singapore (1942), saw the formal announcement of the surrender of the Japanese on its steps (1945), and was the site for the swearing in of our first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew (1959).
📍 Location
The Former City Hall was the 25th building to be gazetted as a National Monument, and is located near right opposite the Padang (another National Monument). The MRT stations nearest to the Former City Hall are City Hall or Raffles Place.
📅 Significant dates
Dates built:
- 1926-1929: Municipal Building (part of the National Gallery today)
- Jan 2011-Nov 2015: National Gallery
Milestones:
- 23 Jul 1929: Municipal Building
- 22 Sep 1951: Renamed "City Hall"
- 24 Nov 2015: National Gallery
Date gazetted:
- 14 Feb 1992
IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/@LEIDEN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES, DIGITAL COLLECTIONS
📜 History
Municipal Building
Completed in 1929, the building was originally known as the Municipal Building and was constructed to accommodate the Municipal Council. Established in 1856, the council was responsible for maintaining public infrastructure and overseeing the supply of water, electricity, and gas in Singapore. It initially operated from rooms in the Town Hall (today's Victoria Theatre) before relocating to various sites in the town area, and eventually settling into the Municipal Building upon its completion.
Before 20th-century land reclamation efforts, the Municipal Building formed part of Singapore’s seafront Neoclassical façade. Ships approaching the harbour or passing by would be met with the sight of grand colonial structures, symbolising the strength and influence of the British Empire.
The Japanese delegation leaving the Municipal Building after the surrender ceremony inside. | IMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/@CHARLES TRUSLER
The City Hall Chamber is where the Japanese officially surrendered to the British, and our first Head of State, Yusof bin Ishak, was sworn in. | IMAGE: NG KAI
World War II
During the Japanese attacks on Singapore, the Municipal Building served as a refuge for civilians seeking shelter from air raids. However, following the fall of Singapore on 15 Feb 1942, the building was taken over as the municipal headquarters of the occupying forces. In the early days of the Japanese Occupation, Allied prisoners-of-war were assembled in front of the building before being marched to the notorious Changi prison camp.
The Municipal Building also played a significant role in marking the end of the occupation. On 12 Sep 1945, Supreme Commander of the Southeast Asian Command, Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, formally accepted the surrender of General Seishiro Itagaki within its walls. That same day, a grand victory parade took place on the Padang, in front of the Municipal Building and the Supreme Court, celebrating Singapore’s liberation.
The building also witnessed a moment of national mourning on 13 Jan 1946, when a funeral service was held there for Singapore’s war hero, Lim Bo Seng (林谋盛). His remains were later interred near MacRitchie Reservoir, where a memorial (located among the Esplanade Park Memorials today) was erected in his honour.
Road to Independence
In 1951, Singapore was granted city status by King George VI, and the building was officially renamed City Hall. It soon became the backdrop for several defining moments in the nation’s history. Following the People’s Action Party’s landslide victory in the 1959 Legislative Assembly General Elections, Lee Kuan Yew was sworn in as Singapore’s first Prime Minister at City Hall alongside his eight cabinet ministers. From its steps, he formally declared Singapore’s full internal self-governance.
Later that year, on 3 Dec, thousands gathered outside City Hall to witness the installation of Yusof bin Ishak as Singapore’s first Malayan-born Yang di-Pertuan Negara ("Head of State" in Malay), as well as the debut of the state anthem, Majulah Singapura, the state crest, and the state flag.
City Hall also played a pivotal role in Singapore’s transition from colonial rule. On 16 Sep 1963, Lee Kuan Yew read the Proclamation of Malaysia from its steps, marking the end of British rule and Singapore’s merger into the Federation of Malaysia. That same year, the City Council was abolished, with responsibilities for utilities transferred to the newly established Public Utilities Board (known today as PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency).
Following Singapore’s independence on 9 Aug 1965, City Hall housed key government offices, including the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and various judicial offices. It also continued to serve as the venue for the swearing-in ceremonies of high-ranking government officials.
The Former City Hall wing of the National Gallery. | IMAGES: NG KAI
As part of the National Gallery today
In 2015, the Former City Hall and Former Supreme Court combined to form the National Gallery Singapore, the largest museum in the Lion City.
IMAGES: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/@SENGKANG
📐 Design and architecture
The Former City Hall stands prominently in front of the Padang, the expansive field in Singapore’s civic district that was originally designated by Sir Stamford Raffles in the Town Plan. Municipal Architects F. D. Meadows and Alexander Gordon took full advantage of its prestigious location, designing a façade that is both imposing and grand.
The building sits on a sturdy plinth (the lower square slab at the base of a column), with a sweeping staircase leading up to its main entrance. Its most striking feature is the row of towering Corinthian columns, supplied by Italian architect and sculptor Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli, who also worked on the neighbouring Former Supreme Court. Complementing its classical elements, the building’s façade is clad in granolithic stone, adding to its stately presence.
Though often described as a precursor to the post-war International Style (defined by strict adherence to functional and utilitarian designs and construction methods, typically expressed through minimalism), the Former City Hall blends Neoclassical and Modernist architectural influences.
While its symmetrical façade, colonnade (a row of columns supporting a roof), and entablature (a horizontal part that rests on the columns) reflect Neoclassical traditions, the structure itself is built with steel. Inside, the usual ornate details of classical architecture are noticeably absent, replaced instead with a more restrained, functional aesthetic typical of Modernist design.
🕖 Opening hours
10am to 7pm daily.
🎟️ Admission
General admission is free for Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, with ticketed tours and exhibitions available as well. Find out more here.
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