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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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Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary Marker)

January 04, 2025

Boundary Marker Heng San Teng newspaper mentions

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Mrs. Chua Ah Siah nee Madam Tan Sim Ai (Bukit Brown)

January 04, 2025

Block 3 Div A Hill 3

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Bukit Brown958
Hill 3317
Hill 1184
Hill 4163
Died Young141
decorative tiles134
Block 3 Div D130
Block 4 Div A113
Hill 297
Block 3 Div B86

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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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- January 2
  - Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary ...
  - Mrs. Chua Ah Siah nee Madam Tan Sim Ai (Bukit Brown)

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Popular Post

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...

Quek Koh Chay (Bukit Brown)

Quek Koh Chay was the founder of Messrs. Quek Hong Seng & Co Ltd. In 1955, he was also a director of the Bank of Singapore, Ltd. In 1952, Quek Koh Chay was mentioned as the single biggest contributor for Singapore Chinese Y.M.C.A fund raising for its new building. He contributed $30,000. Death Quek Koh Chay passed away at the age of 78 at his residence in 251, Bukit Timah Road at 10:30 pm, November 3, 1960. Wife: Madam Wee Chwee Sang Madam Wee Chwee Sang passed away at the age of 77 on May 2, 1966, leaving behind 3 sons; Quek Seng Lip, Quek Seng Guan, Quek Seng Kee, 3 daughter-in-laws, 3 daughters, 3 son-in-laws, 47 grandchildren. Wife: Madam Lau Nam Tee Madam Lau Nam Tee passed away at the age of 95 on November 25, 2005. By 2005, all the sons and daughters of Mr Quek Koh Chay have passed away with exception of 1 daughter; Quek Gek Kim. source: NewspaperSG Madam Lau Nam Tee (source: NewspaperSG) The family home of 251 Bukit Timah Road In my re...

Newspaper mentions (2024 - Heng San Teng Boundary Marker)

2024 ended with an icing on the cake, with another newspaper mention of us and this time is with regards to a boundary marker that was accidentally discovered by Raymond Goh when we were exploring Kopi Sua on 14 December 2024 in search of tombs based on request on descendants. Heng San Teng Boundary Marker / 恒山亭界碑 Chinese text of the Zabao article: 本地寻墓小组在咖啡山发现约有百余年历史的“恒山亭”界碑，历史学者认为这个界碑提供珍贵的实物史料，证明恒山亭曾搬迁到大巴窑一带。寻墓者吴安全（60岁）与另外三人上星期六（12月14日）在惠德里路（Whitley Road）附近一带的咖啡山寻墓时，无意间发现了一个刻着“恒山亭界”字眼的界碑。由于附近最古老的墓碑立于1890年，他推测这个界碑至少有130多年的历史，相信惠德里路一带的坟山属于大巴窑新恒山亭的管辖范围。 “当时我们受人委托来这里寻找几个墓碑，走了一个多小时的路程，突然发现有一处看起来不像是墓碑的石碑，走近隐约看到恒山二字，再撒上一些面粉才看清刻在碑上的字。其实，我们好几次来这座坟山都没有发现这个界碑，在杂草丛生的情况下，这次能够发现它真的很幸运。” 咖啡山指的是靠近泛岛高速公路的快乐山路（Mount Pleasant Road）和安莱盖路（Onraet Road）那片坟山过去是福建会馆产业；惠德里路一带被高速公路隔开的一小片坟山也属于原本的咖啡山。恒山亭是我国历史最悠久华人古庙之一恒山亭是我国历史最悠久的华人古庙之一，至少在1828年前已建成，是我国开埠初期福建社群的最高领导机构。福建人创办恒山亭，主要负责办理乡侨的丧葬，管理福建坟山。正规的福建人聚会、议事，也都在恒山亭举行。受访本地历史学者柯木林指出，1890年代，原址位于石叻路（今惹兰红山）的恒山亭坟山满额后，福建会馆便另寻新址，包括位于中峇鲁、大巴窑，以及武吉布朗一带的墓地，是为新恒山...

Lim Teck Kim and family (Bukit Brown)

Lim Teck Kim was born in Kinmen. He passed away on 28 June 1938 at the age of 55, leaving behind 11 sons and 13 daughters. Lim Teck Kim established the Lim Hoe Chiang Co. , a General Store which marketed the "Global Brand" coffee and W.D & H.O Wills of Bristol and London "Flag Brand" cigarettes at 250 Tanjong Pagar Road. Lim Teck Kim also pioneered Singapore's first amusement park, "Old World (1921) which was later renamed "Happy Valley". Lim Teck Kim's brother-in-law, Ong Boon Tat subsequently opened "New World" (1923). Lim Teck Kim Lim Hoe Chiang Co promoting "Flag Brand" cigarettes The Happy Valley The amusement park was open on 1 February 1924 afternoon by Mrs. Lee Choon Guan, M.B.E . who performed the cord cutting ceremony with a golden scissors at the main gates of Happy Valley just before the Chinese New Year. The main attraction includes a boxing stadium that can be adapted to use for theatrical ...

Tan Chian and family (Kopi Sua)

The tomb of Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian 陳貴賤 was identified by Raymond Goh while we were exploring an area of the Hokkien Cemetery near Mount Pleasant colloquially known as Kopi Sua. While searching through the newspapers archives, we can slowly piece together the story of Tan Chian (1876-1944) and his family. Tan Chian passed away at his residence at No. 19 Scotts Road at the age of 68 on November 3, 2604 (the Japanese koki calender for 1944). He is survived by 7 sons, ( Messrs. Tan Beng Kee, Tan Beng Thong, Tan Beng Wah, Tan Beng Teck, Tan Beng Guan, Tan Beng Ghee and Tan Beng Hui), 4 daughters, 1 son-in-law and 14 grandchildren. Tan Kwee Chian Tan Chian alias Tan Kwee Chian Tan Chian (alias Tan Kwee Chian) was a timber merchant and sawmill propertier with company under the name of Chop Chye Hin, Beach Road. He was also a shareholder in the Chinese Commercial Bank. Mr. Tan Chian was granted a certificate of naturalization by the British Colonial Gover...

Bukit Brown status - snapshot February 2015

What's happening on the ground in Bukit Brown? Is Bukit Brown still accessible and open despite the works going on ? This are the questions people ask me. The answer is a resounding yes. The exhumations have already been completed and works are already under way in the clearing and flattening the land in the preparation of the 8 lane highway, but there still other areas not affected yet for the moment. Below are some pictures i took in my trips to Bukit Brown from October 2014 to end January 2015 to give you a snapshot of the situation at ground level. October 2014 Clearing of the tombs and leveling of the ground (seen through the gates) Leveling of the ground of former Seh Ong cemetery (view from Lornie Road) November 2014 First person to be listed on the burial registrar is not affected. Not so for her neighbour Headstone broken to signify that the tomb is no longer home January 2015 Clearing of Hill 4 Clearing of Hill 3 Materials u...

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...

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 Pah...

Mrs Koh Sek Lim nee Ang Chit Yan (Bukit Brown)

Madam Ang Chit Yan is buried in Bukit Brown, Hill 4 Section C plot no. 80. She is the wife of Mr. Koh Sek Lim whose legacy is remembered by two road named after him, Koh Sek Lim Road and Xilin Avenue. Madam Ang Chit Yan passed away at her residence Gulega Bedoh Estate, No 655-17, Padang Terbakar, Bedoh (Bedok) at 10:15 pm on Friday, 12th November 1937 at the age of 65. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Koh Sek Lim, 14 sons ( Koh Kong Wee , Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong Hor, Koh Kong Thian and 5 others, 5 daughters-in-law, (Mrs. Koh Kong Wee, Mrs. Koh Kong Wan. Mrs. Koh Kong Seng, Mrs. Koh Kong Sun, Mrs, Koh Kong Hor, 10 daughters, 4 son-in-laws ( Yeo Eng Tiong, Wee Swee Seng, Lim Teck Seng, Lim Eng Yong and 30 grandchildren). On her tombstones, the complete names of the sons and daughters include: Sons: Koh Kong Wee , Koh Kong Wan, Koh Kong Boon, Koh Kong Seng, Koh Kong Sun, Koh Kong Hai, Koh Kong Leong, Koh Kong H...

Macrina -daughter of Mr and Mrs. Leong Yew Koh (former Bidadari Cemetery)

The simple but beautiful marble tomb of a cemetery angel on bended knee belonging to a little girl by the name of Macrina caught my eye. Macrina was born in 12 May 1918 and she passed away on 27 March 1919. She was the first child of Leong Yew Koh and Ho York Ling. The tomb was once located at Bidadari Cemetery. With both Macrina parents name being mentioned and the timeline correct, i can be certain that her father is no other than Tun Leong Yew Koh. the first Governor of Malacca. Born in Perak, educated at the Anglo-Chinese School, Ipoh and St. Xavier's institution, Penang. He was awarded the Queen's Scholar in 1908. He went to Cambridge as a Queen's Scholar from Economics and Law and practiced in F.M.S. Leong Yew Koh Tun Leong served with the Chinese Government (1932-1945). On his return to Malaya, he was a member of the Malayan Union Consultative Committee on Constitutional Proposals. He was a Member of the Perak Bar committee, Member of the Chinese Chamber of Comm...

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