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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 March, 2026

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Jalan Besar Stadium (Images from the Past)

Aerial view Images from the Past

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Mr. and Mrs. Wee Teong Chai (Bukit Brown)

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Bukit Brown910
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decorative tiles163
Block 3 Div D149
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Rojak Librarian (Peter Pak): Advocate for Conservation of Bukit Brown Cemetery. Heritage and Nature Enthusiast.

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

Newspaper mentions(2025)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Newspaper mentions(2024)

Grave Matters-The Greater Bukit Brown(2023)

Newspaper mentions(2022)

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

Newspaper mentions (2017)

History from the Hills (2013)

Newspaper mentions (2014)

Resource Guide on Bukit Brown

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Jalan Besar Stadium (Images from the Past)

From the aerial photograph with only generic metadata from Royal Air Force below, i manage to identify Jalan Besar Stadium from its 4 tower flood lights. Comparing with maps of the past and today, i tried to identify the road names as well. Jalan Besar Stadium and its surrounding roads (source: NAS ) Youth Festival (1961) at Jalan Besar Stadium (source: NAS) President Yusuf Ishak opening the Youth Festival at Jalan Besar Stadium (source: NAS) Some snippet about the site: Jalan Besar Stadium, officially opened on 26 December 1929, quickly became the heart of Singapore’s sporting scene. Built as a municipal sports ground, it was home to football matches, athletics, and community events, drawing crowds that often exceeded its capacity—most famously in 1951, when 16,000 fans packed in for a Singapore FA clash with South China AA. From the 1930s onward, it served as the national football team’s home ground, earning its reputation as the “cradle of Singapore football.” Over...

Chia Hood Theam and Madam Yan Lan Neo tombstone

The below is a close-up of an entry from the notebook of Mr. Chia Keng Tye (son of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam ) dated 15 June 1931. The entry that perk my interest was the one i highlighted: 15.6.31 2 Graves completed at Bukit Brown for C.H.T. & Y.L.N Wee Geok $1050. Entry from Notebook of Chia Keng Tye (source: Down Memory Lane by Noreen Chan) A number of things come to mind that i could possibly decipher from the entry. The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam were constructed before their deaths. Chia Hood Theam (C.H.T) passed away in 10 July 1938 while his wife Madam Yeo Lan Neo (Y.L.N) passed away on 21 July 1949. This entry was dated 1931. This means that the plot was purchased in advanced (probably via reservation) and tomb was constructed way before the death of Mr. and Mrs. Chia Hood Theam. Construction cost and tomb mason The second nugg...

Paya Lebar Airport and Airport Road (Images from the Past)

From this 1958 aerial photograph from the Royal Airforce, i suspect that this was the photo of the new Singapore International Airport ( Paya Lebar Airport) that was built to replace Kallang Airport. You can see the newly constructed dual carriage road that also leads to the airport. This road is likely Airport Road today. What is fascinating is you can see how Singapore look like in the past with its Kampong's and agricultural farm lands on what is now likely Tai Seng and Ubi Industrial estate area. Paya Lebar Airport / Singapore International Airport (1958) - source: NAS Paya Lebar Airport officially opened on 20 August 1955, replacing Kallang Airport as Singapore’s main international gateway. At its launch, it was hailed as one of Asia’s finest airports, equipped with modern runway lighting, radio navigation aids, and radar. By 1960, the airport was already handling more than 300,000 passengers annually, with 11 airlines operating 125 weekly flights. Throughout the...

Valley of Death (Siglap)

There was a series of pictures that were recently published on PictureSG, donated by Foo Chin Hwa 胡拯华 1962 that got me curious. It was a series of pictures that shows and describes exhumation being carried out and bones found in Siglap. However nothing further was added in the description and credit line of this pictures except for a few. For this series of pictures, a few things were consistent, the year the pictures were taken and the donor, Foo Chin Hwa 胡拯华. Washing of bones from mass graves source: PictureSG Bones found in Siglap (source: PictureSG) Piles of discarded footwear source: PictureSG Storing bones in jar (source: PictureSG) Siglap's "Valley of Death" The newspaper article headline of 24 February 1962 caught my attention. It describes a recent sandwashing activity at 7.5 mile Siglap Road which led to a discovery of mass war graves. The location of this place is off Evergreen Avenue and very close to Puay Poon School. The Chi...

Mr. and Mrs. Wee Teong Chai (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Wee Teong Chai passed away at the age of 63 at his residence No. 117, Lorong 25, Geylang at 7:15pm on 6 September 1934. He leaves behind; 1 daughter: Miss Wee Geok Kim Nephew: Wee Chim Kay Adopted Daughter: Mrs. Gan Hock Cheow, Niece: Tan Teck Neo Granddaughter: Amy Gan Grand nephew: Tan Kiat Kwee Mrs. Wee Teong Chai nee Cheng Hong Neo passed away at her residence, No. 117 Lorong 25 Geylang at 5:15 am on 4 October 1933. (In the burial registrar her age was listed as 54). She leaves behind, her husband, Daughter: Wee Geok Kim Nephew: Wee Chim Kay Adopted Daughter: Tan Kim Choo Niece: Tan Teck Neo Grand Nephew: Tan Kiat Kwee Granddaughter: Amy Gan Wee Teong Chai Family Adopted Daughter: Mrs. Gan Hock Cheow nee Tan Kim Choo Mrs. Gan Hock Cheow passed away at the age of 70 at her residence, 27 Lorong K off Still Road on 27 January 1959. She leaves behind 3 daughters: Mrs. Tan Kiat Kwee, Mrs. Beck Teck Bock, Mrs. Lim Kim Teck and 3 sons-in-law. She is ...

Ng Boo Bee (Taiping)

Ng Boo Bee (1853-1921) 黄务美, was born and educated in Fujian, China before making his way to Malaya, first in Penang before eventually making a name for himself in the State of Perak. His father is Ng Koh Sung and mother, U Choot Kwah. He started out as a brick manufacturer and timber merchant under the name of Chop Swee Bee in Taiping, Ipoh and Teluk Anson. In Taiping, he acquired the tender contract as a railway contractor under Mr. C.R. Hanson, Resident Engineer for Perak Railways and was probably responsible for the building of the first railway in Malaya which connected Taiping to Port Weld. It was during this time he shrewdly acquired land around Kamunting. Ng Boo Bee Millionaire tin miner The land purchases around Kamunting made Ng Boo Bee a millionaire and with that he acquired also various houses in Taiping and also Penang. The Governor of the Straits Settlement, Sir John Anderson visited Ng Boo Bee tin mine in 1908 which had at that time, employed 4,500...

Mosquito Bus with Tanjong Pagar route sign (Images from the Past)

Found this interesting picture dated 1929 and it shows a close-up of an early local transportation that was popular during that time period - a Mosquito bus. The photo was originally in black and white and faded. I used Gemini and prompted it to sharpen the picture and colorise it without changing anything else. Without commenting on the color of the mosquito bus itself (which could be wrong), there are still other layers of potential information from the photo with the most obvious one- Tanjong Pagar and the license plate of the vehicle (S4267) and the owner ? (H.W. Teck). In the background is another smaller vehicle and in the background is a church steeple - possibly Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (today CHJIMES). Tanjong Pagar denotes the route of this bus service - Tanjong Pagar - Geylang. Just behind the Mosquito bus (which is fully laden with passengers), i can make out a Dispensary but not its name. From old maps, i will make an educated guess that the road t...

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. ...

Chan Chong Teck (Bukit Brown)

Chan Chong Teck passed away at the age of 48 on 31 July 1928. Location of tomb Block 2 Section G, plot 54

Miss Tan Chai Luan (Bukit Brown)

The marble headstone reads; Tan Chai Luan Daughter of Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene Born 26th July 1928 Died 30th July 1928 No. 53G Block II Baby Tan Chai Luan was only 4 days when she passed away. The marble headstone on the valley of Block 2 Division G stands reminder of their love for their baby daughter. Baby Tan Chai Luan Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene went on to have other children; Son: Tan Keng Siong Daughters: Tan Kheng Lian, Tan Kheng Choo Grandchildren: Kenneth Tan Boon Beng, Debbie Tan Siok Hean, Patti Tan Siok Tze, Chew Gek Khim, Chew Gek Hiang, Chew Kwee San, Chuan Ian Campbell, Helene Campbell Parents: Tan Chin Tuan and Wee Helene Tan Chin Tuan was the Assistant Secretary of the Chinese Commercial Bank married Miss Wee Helene, (daughter of Mr. Wee Theam Seng ) on 18 September 1926. Wee Theam Seng was the manager of the Chinese Commercial Bank. When the Chinese Commercial Bank merged with Ho Hong and Overseas Chinese Bank in 1933, to become the Ov...

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