Fortunately a number of people including National Archives of Singapore have documented Woodneuk House in its former glory. I was wondering if i could find an aerial photograph of Woodneuck House from the past and fortunately after some searching, i managed to find the aerial view of it ! It took me a while to confirm but below is what i managed to find. To help you visualise better, i also marked the major landmarks and road names to give you a sense of orientation. Today, only Woodneuk exist. Istana Tyersall and subsequently Tyersall Park structures all disappeared.
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Aerial View of Woodneuk (1957) (source: NAS) |
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Woodneuk and other major landmarks (source: NAS) |
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1958 Masterplan which shows Woodneuk and structures where Tyersall Palace / Istana Tyersall / Tyersall Camp once was (source: NAS) |
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Aerial View of Tyserall Park Camp and Woodneuk -1958 (source: NAS) |
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Google map of Istana Woodneuk today (Satellite view) (source: Google maps) |
Building Plans of Woodneuk House / Istana Woodneuck
Unfortunately for some weird reason, the building plans of Woodneuk House / Istana Woodneuk are not available online anymore. This plans are available if you visit National Archives to see the building plans. Such building plans offer rich possibility to get more details if you are a architect or historical architect researcher. I can see plans dating from 1933-1939 with alteration and addition plans made as late as 1953.
ADDITION OF BOYS' KITCHEN FOR WOODNEUK (1933).ARCHITECT/SURVEYOR: SWAN & MACLAREN
SINGLE ROOM COOLIE LINES AT WOODNEUK SINGAPORE(1939).ARCHITECT/SURVEYOR: PWD JOHORE
COOLIE LINES, BATH ENCLOSURES AND LATRINES AT WOODNEUK SINGAPORE.(1939).ARCHITECT/SURVEYOR: PWD JOHORE
ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO WOODNEUK.(1953). ARCHITECT/SURVEYOR: J KIRKWOOD (SWAN & MACLAREN)
ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO WOODNEUK- GROUND FLOOR PLAN.(1953). ARCHITECT/SURVEYOR: SWAN & MACLAREN
ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO WOODNEUK- FIRST FLOOR PLAN.(1953).ARCHITECT/SURVEYOR: SWAN & MACLAREN
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Woodneuk House (photo taken in June 2025) |
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Woodneuk House (photo taken in June 2025) |
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Woodneuk House (photo taken in June 2025) |
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Istana Woodneuk in 1986 (source: National Archives Singapore) |
The condition of Woodneuk has unsurprisingly became worst. The beautiful staircase now is not safe to walk up and graffiti on the walls has spread to many areas. Large trees have fallen on a room on the second floor and on the compound area. I really hope the land swap can take place soonest and some action taken to prevent further decay of the building.
Tyserall Palace / Istana Tyserall
The earliest reference i can find was from a 1881 map. Going through more topographic maps, you can see that Istana Tyersall was built on another hill (134 meters) while Woodneuk was another lower hill beside it (105 meters).
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1881 map (source: NAS) |
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1970 map (source: NAS) |
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1930 map (source: NAS) |
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Building Plans for Tyersall Singapore for His Majesty Sultan of Johor (source: NAS) |
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Building Plans for Tyersall Singapore for His Majesty Sultan of Johor (source: NAS) |
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Building Plans for Tyersall Singapore for His Majesty Sultan of Johor (source: NAS) |
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Building Plans for Tyersall Singapore for His Majesty Sultan of Johor (source: NAS) |
Current condition of Woodneuk
Since my last visit, the state of Woodneuk has gotten worst with some visitors abusing the place with more graffiti and the worst crime was to destroy the grand staircase. You can compare the place with the older photos i took in 2014.
[research on-going]
References
Aerial view of Tanglin, Singapore. The roundabout (top-centre) is the former Tanglin Circus and the old Tanglin Barracks lies south of the roundabout on the photograph. (1957). British Royal Air Force.
Map of the Town of Singapore and its Environs.(1881). Survey Department, Singapore
Dwelling House for Caretaker of Electric Light - Plan for Building at Tyersall Road -1892
Dwelling House - Plan of Building at Tyersall (Road) Singapore -1897
Servants Quarters - Plan of Building at Tyersall. 1904. Architect/Surveyor: Dato Yahya Bin Awaluddin, Chief Engineer Johore Bahru.
Stable. - Plan of Building at Tyersall. 1908
Topographic Map. 1930
Topographic Map. 1970
https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/maps_building_plans/record-details/de385f26-115c-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad
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