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Rojak Librarian

The Rojak Librarian is a blog that covers a range of topics related to Singapore's history, culture, and heritage. I wrote many articles on Bukit Brown, exploring the cemetery's past and present, the lives of the early pioneers buried there and the social and cultural significance of the site. I also cover about nature and birdwatching.

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Showing posts from 2025

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Lim Pnee (Bukit Brown)

November 02, 2025

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Madam Tan Gim Neo alias Jambol (Bukit Brown)

November 02, 2025

Block 3 Div C unique name video

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Mrs. Wee Ng Yew nee Choo Lian Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 02, 2025

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Sim Ann Kiat (Bukit Brown)

November 01, 2025

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Mrs. Chia Cheow Beng nee Lee Guat Goh (Bukit Brown)

October 26, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Teo Lily - Moving House (Bukit Brown)

October 23, 2025

Block 3 Div C exhumed

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Madam Maria Khoo Siew Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 23, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Madam Cheong Pin Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 22, 2025

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Mrs. Tan Siew Kuah nee Quek Lim Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 20, 2025

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Neo Sun Chye (Bukit Brown)

October 20, 2025

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Tan Thoo Khian alias Tan Siew Jian (Bukit Brown)

October 20, 2025

Block 3 Div C decorative tiles

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Madam Loh Guat Eng (Bukit Brown)

October 20, 2025

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Tan Boon Guan and Madam Tay Siew Neo (Bukit Brown)

October 19, 2025

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Labels

Bukit Brown950
Hill 3344
Hill 1192
Hill 4172
Died Young164
decorative tiles156
Block 3 Div D138
Block 4 Div A120
Block 3 Div B101
Hill 2100

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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Newspaper mentions (2017)

Tuesday Report (2018) 星期二特写 | 行脚。发现第4集：武吉布朗之旅

Newspaper mentions(2022)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

The Stories Behind: Birdwatcher turned grave hunter reunites families with forgotten tombs of their ancestors(2022)

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Popular Post

Stella Yau alias Stella Moya (Ipoh)

Stella Yau alias Stella Moya (1916-2003) was born on 18 July 1916 in Ipoh to a Chinese father (Dr. Yau Ah Chee) and English mother. At the age of 3 she wanted to become a dancer which she excelled in Ipoh Convent during its school concert. At the age of 9, she left for England with her mother while her father remain in charge of the Malaya tin mines. Stella Yau continued her passion for dance and stage training under the tutelage of Jean Anderton and later Viola Compton School. Stella Yau alias Stella Moya (source: NewspaperSG) First Malayan to appear in a picture made in British Studios At the age nineteen, Stella Yau was talent-spotted at a London dance, and became the first Malayan to appear in a film produced in Britain, the 1935 comedy “Stormy Weather”. She played the part of a Chinese girl, Stella Moya, from which she took her stage name. Star dancer in the Tom Walls-Ralph Lynn film "Stormy Weather", she was given the part of Stella Moya, a Chinese girl in the film by ...

Madam Tan Gim Neo alias Jambol (Bukit Brown)

The fast growing buttress of the red-stem fig tree (ficus variegata) on the marble headstone has done severe damage to the marble tomb. The entire backing of the headstone has crumbled and the shoulder with the name of the daughter is also heavily damage. The names of the children that fortunately can still make out; Sons: Wee Chee Soo, Wee Chee Beng Daughters: Wee Geok Kim, Wee Geok Leng Fortunately the tomb contains the plot number 195 and the year she passed, allowing me to confirm that the person buried here is Madam Tan Gim Neo alias Jambol who passed away at the age of 37 and is buried in Bukit Brown on 21 March 1934. What an interesting alias. I wonder what "Jambol" means as it is clearly listed on her burial entry. Madam Tan Gim Neo alias Jambol Location of tomb Block 3 Section C, plot 195 Madam Tan Gim Neo alias Jambol

Kamala Circus - The Great Indian Circus visits Singapore

I heard about the Tai Thean Kew circus from my involvement with Bukit Brown and during one my tours on the Queenstown Heritage Trail , i was told of another Indian circus troupe that existed in the late 1950's and 1960's. Recently, while curating ideas for a Bukit Brown tour on Pioneers of Early Entertainment, i came across a travelling circus troupe by the name of Kamala Circus. Kamala Circus (source: NewspaperSG) Kamala Circus was reputed to be the largest travelling show in the Far East. It boasted over 100 Indian artist and featured acts such as the flying trapeze act, the "Globe of Death" motor cycle act by two young girls, a 30 foot leap by a motorcyclist and the "cat" act. It claims over 300 tons of equipment and animals which include 16 horses, 8 Ceylon baby elephants, an African lion and 2 lionesses, 2 tiger cubs and 3 Indian mountain goats. It came to Singapore in 1947 from India via Ceylon and performed for a month before touring around th...

Khoo Kay Hian (Bukit Brown)

During the rubber boom of the 1910, Khoo Kay Hian / Khoo Kay Hean was well positioned and made money as a rubber broker based in The Arcade. He went on to be the founder of one of the best known stock broking firm in Singapore bearing his namesake, Kay Hian and Co in 1921. He was also a committee member of the Singapore Sharebrokers' Association (this was before it became the Singapore Stock Exchange). Throughout his career, he held various positions and they included: Assistant Secretary of the Ee Hoe Hean Club (1918) ; Management Committee of the Garden Club (1920) Chinese Lantern Procession (1922), Joint Honorary Secretary together with Lim Kee Cheok. (Lim Chwee Chian was the Chairman) and also Committee member of the Singapore Chinese Girls School (1925). He contributed to various causes and some of them include: Kampong Martin Relief Fund (1916), Chinese Halifax Relief Fund (1917), Sir Arthur Young's Portrait Fund (1919), St Andrew's Hospital Building (1920), Nanyang U...

Wee Sian Kah (Bukit Brown)

Wee Sian Kah is the stevedore of Messrs. K.P.M. He passed away at the age of 62 on 22 May 1940 at his residence in No. 51 Amoy Street. He is survived by; Sons: Wee Eng Wah, Wee Eng Kwee, Wee Eng Watt, Wee Eng Chye, Wee Eng Hong, Wee Eng Hian, Wee Eng Kee, Wee Eng Kim, Wee Eng Kiat, Wee Eng Khiam, Wee Eng Siong and Wee Hian Eng, Daughters: Wee Hong Neo, Wee Leng Neo, Wee Siew Neo, Wee Ai Neo, Wee Geok Luan, Wee Geok Eng, 2 son-in-laws; Koh Pheow Wah and Chua Choon Lye; 6 daughter-in-laws. 29 grandchildren. Mr Wee Sian Kah and Madam Tan Quee Kee Wee Sian Kah had 3 wives/widows; Madam Lim Ang Khee, Madam Tan Ah Soo and Madam Teo Choon Hua listed in the papers. However, beside him is Madam Tan Quee Kee who passed away at the age of 85 on 8 September 8, 1965. So it is very likely Mr. Wee Sian Kah had 4 wives or maybe more. Beautiful tomb crest of Mr. and Mrs. Wee Sian Kah Tomb of Mr and Mrs Wee Sian Kah Courtyard with benches Fa...

Dr. Lim Soon Kian (Bukit Brown)

Dr. Lim Soon Kian / Dr. S.K. Lim is the son of Mr and Mrs. Lim Cheng Wee. Lim Soon Kian studied in Raffles Institution and later graduated from the Hong Kong University. Dr. S.K. Lim, M.b., B.S. (son of Mr. Lim Cheng Wee of the P & Co ) married on 26 June 1917 at Bandjermasin to Miss Thio Kim Loen Neo (eldest daughter of Mr. Thio Soen Yang, the Captain China of Bandjermasin and sister of Mr. Thio Kim Chuan of Aik Leong Chan and Co. of Singapore). The reception was attended by over 400 persons, including the Resident of Borneo, his wife and daughters, the Controller and Secretaries and other leading Government officials and merchants. Dr. Lim has for some time was the house surgeon at the Government Civil Hospital of Hongkong. After marriage, they moved to Singapore where he opened us his practice. Unfortunately the marriage did not last long as just a little over a year after their marriage, Madam Thio Kim Loen passed away due to influenza at 56-8 Neil Road on 26 October 1918....

Woodneuk House - a palace in ruins

Forgotten to many is an abandoned house, a palace or Istana of sorts to the Sultan of Johore. The house is known as simply Woodneuk house. There was another house or palace that resided in the grounds previously. It was called Tyersall house or Istana Tyersall and people often confused Tyersall house vs Woodneuk house because of its proximity. Hopefully my article below helps clear this confusion and also help share what i have learned (or in my case, still learning) about the heritage value of this building and it's rich historical past. Tyersall House ( Istana Tyersall) Originally a country house, it was owned by Mr. William Napier and built in 1854. Sitting on 67 acres of land, it was put up for sale in 1857 and ownership transferred to the Sultan of Johore. It was rebuilt on a larger scale by 1892. Sultan Abu Bakar threw a party or ball, marking its reopening on January 15, 1895. The roof of the new house was said to have a distinct red tiled roof. The map below provides c...

Madam Cheong Pin Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Cheong Pin Neo passed away at the age of 68 at 9:30 pm on 5 April 1936. However, i found an article that states; Mrs. Loo Tian nee Cheong Pin Neo passed away at the age of 68 at 9:30 pm on 4 May 1936 at No. 150-P. East Coast Road. She leaves behind her brother, Mr. Cheong Swee Teck and a grandson, Mr. Loo Boon Kwee. According to the article funeral took place at Bukit Brown. The name, age, year and place matches - however the date she died shows a difference of 1 month. I check with Raymond Goh and he shared with me that the name of the grandson, Loo Boon Kwee is etched on her tomb, so very likely it is the same person. Brother: Cheong Swee Teck For Cheong Swee Teck, there is a Cheong Swee Teck which i wrote about but i can't be sure it is the same person. Grandson: Loo Boon Kwee The address No. 150-P. East Coast Road and name Loo Boon Kwee allowed me to match her grandson. I have written about Loo Boon Kwee before after finding...

Sim Ann Kiat (Bukit Brown)

Sim Ann Kiat / Sim Wan Kiat passed away at the age of 64 on 3 May 1964. It a newspaper article it was written that Sim Ann Kiat age 67 of Sim Ban Thong Ltd passed away peacefully on 3 May 1964 leaving behind one elder brother, Sim Ann Tuan, 2 widows, 10 sons,9 daughters, 2 daughters-in-law, 6 sons-in-law and 14 grandchildren to mourn his loss. The cortege left from 290A Kampong Bahru Road for Bukit Brown. Services was conducted by the Hon. Dhammasukha of the Buddhist Union. The names of his children that i can make out from his tomb; Sons: Sim Beng Chee, Sim Beng Teck, Sim Beng Hoe, Sim Beng San, Sim Beng Bee, Sim Beng Hai, Sim Beng Cheok, Sim Beng Piow, Sim Beng Siong Daughters: Sim Hock Neo, Sim Hong Neo, Sim Leong Chit, Sim Lak Neo, Sim Kim Neo, Sim Chit Neo, Sim Guat Neo, Sim Siew Neo, ? Grandson: Sim Peng ? Sim Ann Kiat alias Sim Wan Kiat CHOP SIM BAN THONG Chop Sim Ban Thong is located at 15 Boat Quay and the sole proprietor in 1932 of the company was Sim A...

Neo Sun Chye (Bukit Brown)

Neo Sun Chye passed away at the age of 51 on 3 March 1934. The name of their children; Son: Neo Kim Poh, Daughter: Neo Kim Hiok Grandson: Neo Sim Chuah Neo Sun Chye Location of tomb Block 3 Section C, plot 255 20250719

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