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08 Sep 2023 - 7 min read

10 Oldest Buildings in Singapore

Old Buildings in Singapore - Singapore is about more than just modernization, business, and cuisine. However, Singapore also has history, culture, and art to explore. You can find every historical relic in museums and old buildings.

Many old buildings in Singapore are reflected in color, architecture, and other trinkets. You can find many old buildings in almost every corner of Singapore. Around the old buildings, there are also tourist attractions, museums, and art performances that you can visit. So, here we are recommending you some of the oldest buildings in Singapore.

The Oldest Building in Singapore to Visit

1. The Old Parliament House / The Arts House (1827)

Location: 1 Old Parliament Ln, Singapore 179429
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 9.30 PM

The Arts House - Old Buildings in Singapore

One of the oldest buildings in Singapore is The Old Parliament House. This building is also known as the Arts House. This was the seat of Singapore's parliament in the past. The building located in Empress Place has undergone many changes and major additions–it's just that the inside of the terrace is still in the form of the original building.

In addition, the main building and pavilion were designated as a national monument in 1992. This building is now better known as the Art House–a place for performances and art exhibitions.

This building has more than 75 seats in each entertainment room and cinema. The most historic space is the Crown Jewels–a 150-seat concert hall known as The Chamber. Here you can see various concerts, film screenings, and art exhibitions.

2. Sri Mariamman Temple (1827)

Location: 244 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058793
Opening Hours: 6 AM - 12 PM, 6 PM - 9 PM

Sri Mariamman Temple - Old Buildings in Singapore

The next oldest building in Singapore is Sri Mariamman Temple. This temple is located in Chinatown and has been the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore since 1827. Formerly this temple was known as Mariamman Kovil or Kling Chapel.

The temple, founded by Indian Naraina Pillai, is surrounded by an original wood-and-attap structure. Immigrants from Nagapatnam and Cuddalore districts in South India built the system. In addition, the temple is dedicated to the goddess Mariamman–a goddess known for her power to cure diseases and plagues.

When you visit, you will see decoration details and interiors that are quite intricate but magnificent. There are also statues of gods and mythological shops that fill the temple.

3. Thian Hock Keng Temple (1822)

Location: 158 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068613
Opening Hours: 7.30 AM - 5 PM

Thian Hock Keng Temple - Old Buildings in Singapore

We also recommend Thian Hock Keng Temple to include in your trip. It is the oldest Chinese temple in Singapore and is a cultural heritage. For admirers and those who want to know about oriental culture, you must visit this temple.

This temple still stands in the middle of bars and restaurants in Chinatown, equipped with oriental decorations. In addition, the temple, built in 1822, has gained support from members of the Hokkien community.

The shrine is also dedicated to Mazu–the goddess of the sea. Early Chinese immigrants came to this temple to give thanks for their journey that had crossed the great waves of the South China Sea to Singapore.

When you visit, you will be greeted by traditional South Chinese-style architecture. There are ornaments and statues of dragons, phoenixes, gods, and colorful porcelain on the roof's ridge.

4. The Armenian Church (1835)

Location: 60 Hill St, Singapore 179366
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 6 PM

The Armenian Church - Old Buildings in Singapore

The Armenian Church is an Armenian Apostolic church–the first Christian church built in Singapore in 1835. The church was designed by George D. Coleman–an architect from Ireland.

Since Armenian families grew up in Southeast Asia for business in the 1830s, the church was needed for worship. On March 26, 1836, the church was dedicated to St. Gregory–patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The church was gazetted and designated as a national monument in 1973 by the National Heritage Board of Singapore.

5. The Nagore Durgha Shrine (1829)

Location: 140 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068604
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM (Monday - Friday), 9 AM - 1 PM (Saturday), Sunday Closed

The Nagore Durgha Shrine - Old Buildings in Singapore

You can also visit one of the oldest buildings in Singapore–The Nagore Durgha Shrine. The Chulias–a community in South India–built the temple in 1829. The temple was initially known as Shahul Hamid Durgha and was dedicated to Shahul Hamid of Nagore–a remembered saint who has visited Singapore.

This temple has no relics of the person's body but has a niche where oil lamps are placed on holidays. In addition, the temple is covered with typical South Indian ornaments. The temple was gazetted as a National Monument in 1974 and designated as the oldest religious monument in Singapore.

6. The National Museum of Singapore (1887)

Location: 93 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178897
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 6.30 PM

The National Museum of Singapore - Old Buildings in Singapore

The next old building is The National Museum of Singapore. It is the oldest museum in Singapore that showcases the stories of Singapore and the world. It became known as the Raffles Library and Museum and moved to Stanford Road in 1887.

The museum was later opened to the public and dedicated to Singapore's art, culture, and history. In addition to being the oldest museum, this building is also the largest in Asia.

The museum was designated as a national monument of Singapore in 1992 by the National Heritage Board. There are objets d'art sculptures, drawings, archaeological finds, paintings, and other works of art exhibited here.

7. The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall (1862)

Location: 11 Empress Pl, #01-02, Singapore 179558
Opening Hours: -

The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall - Old Buildings in Singapore

Another old building in Singapore is The Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. It's a great place to enjoy world music and emotional performances.

It is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, built-in 1862. This building used to be used as a city hall with a theater and later became Singapore's largest theater.

Then in 1901, it was decided to build a memorial hall for Queen Victoria next to the area of the town hall. This building was then changed to the Victoria Theatre after that. Until now, this building has been used as an iconic landmark in downtown Singapore.

So, in addition to commemorating Queen Victoria, some halls are used as a venue for prestigious music and theater performances in the city center.

8. The Empress Place Building (1869)

Location: 1 Empress Pl, Singapore 179555
Opening Hours: -

The Empress Place Building - Old Buildings in Singapore

The Empress Place Building is located at the mouth of the Singapore River. This building is used as an essential government building in Singapore today. The building built by Indians was once used as the main administrative department.

The building was designed by Colonial Engineer Major John F. A. McNair–a convict inspector. So, this building was built by convicts employed in the construction project.

Until then, this building underwent an expansion phase to meet the needs of various residents. After that, in 2003, the building was used as home to the Asian Civilisations Museum. There are Chinese, South Asian, West Asian, and Southeast Asian material cultures here.

9. The Singapore Art Museum (1910)

Location: 39 Keppel Rd, #01-02, Singapore 089065
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 7 PM

The Singapore Art Museum - Old Buildings in Singapore

Another historical buildings in Singapore you can visit is The Singapore Art Museum. Here you can experience contemporary art that lives in the middle of Singapore.

This building has its place for artists and locals who love art. This building is often used as inspiration to produce a work of art. In addition, the building is dedicated entirely to contemporary art.

Several rooms and two buildings are the heritage of this building. Some of these spaces, one of which is in Tanjong Pagar stripark. In that place, you will see more innovative and experimental works of art. Art exhibitions by local and foreign artists are often held throughout the year.

Location: 1 St Andrew's Road #01–01. Singapore 178957
Opening Hours: 10 AM - 7 PM

The National Gallery Singapore - Old Buildings in Singapore

The National Gallery Singapore is the newest and largest modern art museum in Singapore and Southeast Asia. The museum is located in the Civic District–precisely in City Hall, the former Supreme Court.

This building is dedicated to curating collections that will give you insight into Singapore's art, history, and cultural heritage. You'll see thousands of the most popular visual arts in this museum.

There are also collections from top artists from Southeast Asia and the world. One of the famous art here is the work of Raden Saleh from Indonesia, the work of Latiff Mohidin from Malaysia, the work of Nguyen Gia Tri from Vietnam, the work of Yayoi Kusuma from Japan, and the work of Mark Rothko.

Those are some of the oldest buildings in Singapore for your historical trip. Some of these buildings are crowded on weekends and national holidays. You can find out the schedule of these tourist attractions through the official website or Traveloka application.

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We also recommend coming in the morning and afternoon to enjoy a quieter and more peaceful atmosphere. Around these old buildings, you can find many tourist attractions, from train stations, hotels, to restaurants. You can plan your trip on Traveloka to make it easier.

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