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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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Mrs. Chia Hood Seng nee Madam Yeo Inn Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 21, 2025

Block 4 Div C Hill 4

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Teo Soon Lam (Bukit Brown)

November 20, 2025

Block 5 Division C Died Young

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Neo Hock Leng (Bukit Brown)

November 20, 2025

Block 3 Div C Died Young

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Madam Tan Sai Kim (Kopi Sua)

November 19, 2025

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Yap Geok Song's Pineapple Factory off Grove Road

November 18, 2025

Building Plans Merchant

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Mrs. Tan Eng Ban nee Madam Lucy Chia Bin Neo (Kopi Sua)

November 16, 2025

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Franz Izako's Circus in Singapore 1934

November 16, 2025

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Madam Oh Gim Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 10, 2025

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Rediscovery of a cluster of tombs via Adam Drive jungle nearer to PIE

November 09, 2025

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Madam Ng Cheng Im (Bukit Brown)

November 09, 2025

Block 3 Div C Teochew Tomb

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Wee Peck Choon (Bukit Brown)

November 09, 2025

Block 3 Div C Japanese Koki Calender

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Lim Hak Jee (Bukit Brown)

November 09, 2025

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Madam Tan Tham Neo (Bukit Brown)

November 08, 2025

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Labels

Bukit Brown949
Hill 3343
Hill 1191
Hill 4173
Died Young166
decorative tiles157
Block 3 Div D138
Block 4 Div A120
Block 3 Div B101
Block 3 Div C100

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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

Teo Hoo Lye (Bukit Brown)

Teo Hoo Lye (1853-1933) Teo Hoo Lye (18 Oct 1853- 16 Nov 1933) was born in China and came to Singapore when he was 18. Like many stories of rags to riches of the early pioneers, Teo Hoo Lye worked from ground up, starting as a manual labourer, saving money to open a small grocer business called chop Soon Bee in Rochore Road. At the age of 25 he went to the Natuna and Anambas Islands and got into the copra (extracted for its coconut oil) business which was a valuable commercial product then. This then led him to expand and become a steamship owner (Aing Hong, Flevo, Batavier, Benuit, etc) and he became a consignee of ships for the export of copra, sago, rubber, etc from Natuna to Singapore and also to Sarawak. His company, Teo Hoo Lye S.S. Co. (or Soon Bee Steamship Co.) was eventually liquidated in 1935, for half a million dollars (by his trustees after his death) and 12 steamships such as Willy o' the Wisp, Massima, Huat Chiang among others bought up by Heap Eng Moh Steamsh...

Gan Eng Seng and family (Bukit Brown)

Gan Eng Seng was born in Malacca ( Melaka) in 1844. His Great Grandparents came from Sam-Toh, Fukien province. Born third in a family of 5, he had two elder sisters, Gan Gin Neo and Gan Guat Neo. He was the eldest son. His younger brother was Gan Eng Chye followed by the youngest sister, Gan Guan Neo. Born poor, he still was able to received some education, giving him the ability to read and write simple English. His father died when he was 16 years old. He then left for Singapore and was involved initially in a nutmeg business in a small scale. He went on to served under Guthrie and Co. Gan Eng Seng Chief Campradore, Gutherie and Co. Thomas Scott, a partner of Gutherie, offered Gan Eng Seng a job in the godown at Coller Quay as a clerk and it was there he climbed up the ranks, from an Assistant Storekeeper to Chief Storekeeper and finally the Chief Campradore of Guthrie and Company after 13 years of service. He was the Chief Compradore for 25 years till he died in 1899. ...

Bertram Yong Shee Jen (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

I came across this obelisk shape tomb while exploring the Christian section of the Chao Chu Kang Cemetery. It carried the following words: In ever loving and proud memory of a very dear and fine son 2LT. BERTRAM YONG SHEE JEN (Singapore Air Defence Command) who died in the course of duty 6th January 1951 8th November 1971 "THY WILL BE DONE" On the back, engraved are the names of his family: 2LT. Bertram Yong Shee Jen, fourth son of Dr. & Mrs. Yong Kon Vui, brother of Victor Yong Shee Hueng, Leslie Yong Shee Keong, Yong Shee Bok and Jeanette Yong Second-Lieutnant Bertram Yong of Singapore Air Defence Command was 20 years old when his Hunter jet crashed into a hill in Central Wales during a training flight. His British instructor also died in the mishap. A student of Anglo-Chinese School, Barker Road, he excelled in the sports ( a national champion sprinter) and also became the first Singapore Air Defence Cadet to receive the best trainee award. The bo...

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...

Yap Geok Song's Pineapple Factory off Grove Road

Yap Geok Song was a land property owner, pineapple and rubber planter merchant. His rubber estate was privately owned and was called Kuan Tian or Yap Geok Song's estate. He was also a shareholder / director of Eastern United Assurance and Oversea Chinese Bank. This supplement article focuses on him as a pineapple owner or rather i would say owner of a pineapple canning factory business. With the building plan below dated 1911, Yap Geok partial name can be seen. But what made me a bit more confidence it was his signed name - Yap Geok Song. The building plan was the plans to repurpose existing builds on 50, 51, 52 and 53 off Grove Road for a pineapple factory. This factory is for Yap Geok Song. There was even an article that dates back to 1 September 1906 of a lawsuit by Yap Geok Song against Adam-seroo for alleged breach of contract in stopping the supply of carts for the removal of pineapple porings. Pineapple Factory to Existing Building - at 50,51,52 and ...

Kwa Siew Tee and family (Choa Chu Kang Christian Cemetery)

Kwa Siew Tee, a Semarang born Chinese was a Municipal Commissioner (an appointment he held till 1949). He was also the General Manager of Overseas Chinese Bank Corporation Limited, Assistant General Manager of The Eastern United Assurance Corporation, Limited and a Member of the Hospital Board. He received a Certificate of Honour in 1951. Kwa Siew Tee passed away at the age of 89 on 20 March 1977. Group photo of the founding of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in 1932 Kwa Siew Tee is standing behind. (source: National Archives of Singapore) Family Kwa Siew Tee and family (source: National Archives of Singapore) Wife: Madam Wee Yew Neo Madam Wee Yew Neo is the daughter of Wee Theam Seng . She passed away on 14 May1980. She is survived by; 3 sons: Kwa Soon Siew, Kwa Soon Chuan, Kwa Soon Bee 4 daughters: Kwa Geok Neo, Kwa Geok Lan, Kwa Geok Choo, Kwa Geok Eng. Son: Kwa Soon Hock Kwa Soon Hock is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Kwa Siew Tee. He was a sta...

Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers (former Bidadari Cemetery)

George Edward Noel Oehlers / George E N Oehlers / Geno Oehlers (1 April 1908- 27 October 1968) was educated at St. Andrew's School and Raffles Institution, George Edward Noel Oehlers was called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) in 1931 and to the Singapore Bar in March 1932. He practiced as advocate and solicitor in Singapore until he was appointed Speaker designate of Singapore Legislative Assembly in December 1954. He was appointed First Speaker of the Singapore Legislative Assembly in 1 June 1960. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers was knighted in 1958 making him the first Eurasian in Singapore to be knighted. Other positions he held throughout his career included being the President of the Industrial Arbitration Court (1965) and Chairman of the Public Utilities Board, Singapore. Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers Sir George Edward Noel Oehlers passed away due at his residence in Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur at the age of 60 on 27 October 1968 in Kuala Lumpur age 60 and was cremated on 28 Oc...

Jewish Cemetery at Choa Chu Kang Singapore

This is my blog experience of my visit to the Jewish Cemetery in Choa Chu Kang on 17 November 2024. The visit was made possible via My Community Festival - My Last Journey. During this tour i learned a lot from Rabbi Nissim Zawdy (a young Rabbi from The Chesed-El Synagogue at Oxley Rise River Valley). During our visit Rabbi Nissim eloquently and patiently explained to us the story of the Jewish Community in Singapore, the Jewish Cemeteries that exist as well as finally the Jewish funeral rites and practices in Singapore. He also answered many curious questions that we may have about the Jewish customs and rites. Disclaimer: If there is any mistakes in my interpretation, it is solely by me and not associated to Rabbi Nissim nor the volunteer guides of MyCommunity. At the entrance of the Jewish Cemetery in Choa Chu Kang, i am greeted by a sign in Hebrew. Curious to understand what it was trying to say, i used AI to interpret it for me. The plaque with the Hebrew text at the entrance...

Tan Swee Hoe and family (Batu Pahat)

Sometime back in August 2012, i wrote an article about Tan Swee Hoe who is buried in Bukit Brown . Tan Swee Hoe came to Singapore as a young boy and worked his way up, eventually becoming one of founders of Ho Hong Bank, and later a director of Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) after it merged with it. He was also for two terms, the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Batu Pahat, shareholder of Ho Aik Steamships. Tan Swee Hoe was a member of the Council of State, Johore and received a title S.M.J (Setia Mahkota Johore) from the government of Johore in 1929 for his contributions. He owned several property in Singapore and Batu Pahat. Tan Swee Hoe In January 2014, i was fortunate to make a trip with like minded friends to Batu Pahat to visit one of the properties he owned as well as a temple he contributed too and finally the grave of his son. Tan Swee Hoe's mansion First on my wishlist was Tan Swee Hoe's mansion on 160 Jalan Kluang, Batu Paha...

Lim Nee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Lim Nee Soon's wife (Wee Pek Hay) and two of his son's ( Lim Chong Kuo and Lim Chong Pang ) tomb can be found in Bukit Brown, Block 4 Division A. Mr. Lim Nee Soon is not buried there but in Nanking, China. It is however difficult to write a story about Lim Nee Soon family members tomb cluster in Bukit Brown, without first introducing Mr. Lim Nee Soon first. Pineapple King and Patriot Mr. Lim Nee Soon (1879-1936) is the son of Mr Lim Peng Guan and was born in Kampong Glam, Beach Road in 1879. His father died when Lim Nee Soon was only 8 years old and was left in the care of his maternal grandfather, Mr. Teo Lee (Mr Teo Eng Hock's father). Lim Nee Soon received his early education in both St. Joseph Institution and Anglo-Chinese School and therefore proficient in both English and Chinese languages. A Teochew, he started from scratch, working as a shopkeeper assistant at the age of 18 and from there he climbed the rungs by next working for timber merchant Tan Tye a...

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