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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 October, 2026

Posts

Tan Soo Wha (Bukit Brown)

October 05, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Block 4 Div C Teochew Tomb

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許成溪 - Koh Cheng Khee (Lao Sua)

October 04, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Lao Sua tomb mason Youtube Shorts

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黃狗屎 (Lao Sua)

October 04, 2026

AI Assisted Translation Lao Sua unique name Youtube Shorts

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Madam Wee Tuah Nya (Bukit Brown)

October 03, 2026

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Peck Cheng Bong (Bukit Brown)

October 03, 2026

AI Assisted Translation block 2 Division H

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Mr. Red (紅) ? - Ang Peng Siong (Bukit Brown)

October 02, 2026

AI Assisted Translation block 2 Division H marble

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Madam Neo Ging Neng (Bukit Brown)

October 02, 2026

block 2 Division H marble

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Labels

Bukit Brown887
Hill 3328
Died Young201
Hill 1183
decorative tiles180
Block 3 Div D152
Hill 4151
Block 4 Div A142
Block 3 Div C130
Block 4 Div C108

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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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Cheang Jim Hean (Bukit Brown)

Cheang Jim Hean (1873-1901) is the eldest son of Mr. Cheang Hong Lim and his residence was at No 99 River Valley Road also known as Annan Bank. He had owned numerous property and also rented out property and equipment such as a rice mill. Khoo Ek Neo and Cheang Jim Hean Khoo Ek Neo and Cheang Jim Hean 1886 advertisment Cheang Jim Hean Free School Cheang Jim Hean and his father, Cheang Hong Lim founded this bilingual school in the 1892 in Havelock Road. Cheang Jim Hean manage the school which he contributed $1200-2000 every year to its operation. On November 7, 1900 during an annual inspection, the inspectors concluded that after the school standards of teaching was good after examining performance of 97 boys. Unfortunately the school was closed suddenly after the death of Cheang Jim Hean in 1901 with at least 216 students affected. Ad for teacher Cheang Jim Hean Street There was a street named Cheang Jim Hean Street which was renamed to Calcutta ...

Low Nong Nong ( Bukit Brown )

Low Nong Nong ( Lau Wong Tong / Low Ee Long), a Hockchew rickshaw puller and construction coolie lies buried at Bukit Brown in a simple tomb at the pauper section of Hill 3 Division 7, tomb no 120. His story carved on his tombstone however bears a rich story of a turbulent moment in time where poor ricksha coolies banded together to seek justice in terms of a more favorable rental rates of rickshaw from the owners (towkay) of this ricksha. Rickshaw puller Living conditions for Rickshaw coolies Pah Mata ! (Strike Police !) In 1938, the towkays of rickshaws raised the rental fees. This together with the perception that there was manipulation of the China Relief Fund contributions, became a major issue for the growing number of rickshaw coolies, some already unemployed as the number of rickshaw licenses issued declined over the years and other modern modes of transportation coming into competition. Some of the rickshaw coolies banded together in protest and calling ...

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...

Neo Tiew alias Leong Hou Chou (Bukit Brown)

Nestled in a quiet section of Hill 2 Division B that is still undisturbed by the 8 lane highway is the dual tomb of Madam Lim Jiah (wife of Mr. Neo Tiew) and Madam Ong (his mother) from Lam Ann (南安). It was discovered by Raymond Goh and shared on the Bukit Brown facebook group after he cleaned up the tomb and identified them. Mrs Neo Tiew (believed to be the first wife) née Mdm Lim Jiah, passed away on 23 Mar 1927 at the age of 45. Her distraught husband Neo Tiew was said to have written the epitaph on the very same day of her passing. Neo Tiew's mother Mdm Ong date on the tomb was mentioned as March 29, 1944. Madam Lim Jiah (Mrs Neo Tiew) Epitaph at Madam Lim Jiah Madam Ong (Neo Tiew's mother) Dual tomb recently cleared Kingdom of Neo Tiew Neo Tiew (梁宙) alias Leong Hou Chou . O.B.E. , S.C.H was described as man with hand of iron that ruled over the village of no crime in the Kingdom of Neo Tiew. The 1953 article went on to...

Khoo Phee Soon and family (Bukit Brown)

Khoo Phee Soon (1862- 1939) was a well know ship owner and rice merchant, who had operations in Penang, Malacca, Bangkok and Singapore. He was also a shareholder in the Singapore Slipway & Engineering, Limited. He owned and or leased steamships /sails such as the Chow Phya, Rotorua,Omapere, Perak,Waihora, Avagyee, Vidar, Janet Nicoll. The Straits Times, 26 August, 1903 (source: NewspaperSG) Death Khoo Phee Soon died in 5th March 1939 at his residence in No. 146 Carpmael Street and is buried in Block 4 Division C. He left behind 5 sons, Khoo Peck Hock, Khoo Peck Enh, Khoo Peck Guan, Khoo Peck Cheng and Khoo Peck Khye, 2 daughters ; Khoo Eng Phaik ( Mrs Chua Kwee Seng) , Khoo Eng Yan (Mrs Chia Keng Teow) and 2 son-in laws. Khoo Phee Soon's tomb revealed after many years hidden by a Banyan tree Family Father: Khoo Tiong Poh 邱忠波 (1830-1892) Khoo Phee Soon's father was Khoo Tiong Poh / Khoo Teong Poh . Born in China, Khoo Tiong Poh was the elde...

Teo Kim Eng (Bukit Brown)

The large tomb and jovial picture of Mr Teo Kim Eng got me curious about him. His story is an interesting one. Teo Kim Eng (张金荣), a Hokkien businessman from Lam Ann, first came to Singapore at age of 12 and started working as a labourer and eventually earned enough to start in his own stall at the age of 17. By 20, he was the owner of a thriving business and is the owner of Chop Guan Choon (源春号), a big tobacco wholesaler firm. He is the owner of a chain of rubber estates and houses. Mr and Mrs Teo Kim Eng Philanthropist and "Kepala" Prior to war, Teo Kim Eng contributed to the Malayan Patriotic Fund, London Air Raid Relief Fund and China Relief Fund. He is a millionaire but prefers to be known as a "kepala" of his 100-acre holiday resort in Tampenis (now spelled as Tampines). Mr. Teo Kim Eng was observed to be working with his labourers in his estate and was seen during weekends spending hours working under the hot sun, shirtless and armed with a changko...

Tan Soo Wha (Bukit Brown)

Mr. Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam passed away at the age of 60 on 21 July 1939. Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam / 陳炳炎 Estate of Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam From the newspaper article, i gotten insight that Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam passed away at No. 24 Pearl's Hill Road Singapore on 21 July 1939. The executor of the deceased estate was Yeo Yeow Ching. Tan Soo Wha alias Tan Peng Yam estate Tan Soo Wha is long associated with the Amateur Sporting Association where some meetings were even held at his residence in 1921. Gemini AI Translated Central Columns (The Deceased) 祖 (Zǔ): Ancestor 考炳炎陳公 (Kǎo Bǐngxìn Chén Gōng): 公/Gong is a respectful title for a male elder). Chinese characters: 陳炳炎 / Chen BingYán Teochew Romanization: Tan Peng Yam 妣耀清楊氏楊耀清 / Yang Yaoqing Teochew Romanization: Yeo Yew Cheng 墓 (Mù): Tomb / Grave. Right Side Wing (Hometown & Date) 潮安菴埠 (Cháo'ān Ānbù): Chao'an, Anbu. This indicates their ancestral origin...

Khoo Tiong Poh and family (Penang)

Khoo Tiong Poh / Khoo Teong Poh 邱忠波 was the eldest son of Khoo Eng Chye 邱应财 . Born in China, Khoo Tiong Poh came to the Straits Settlement when he was 22 years of age. He went on to be a prominent shipping figure and leader among the Hokkien community. In November 1874, after being in business as partner in chop Teong Ho, Market Street, Khoo Tiong Poh decided to leave and partner with Rajah Wichit of Phya Puket to become senior partner of a prominent shipping company called Bun Hin and Co, based in Malacca Street, with offices in Penang, Hong Kong, Swatow and Amoy. He was also a partner in Ann Bee and Co. (a shipchandlery business). He own steamships such as Cheang Hock Kian, Carisbrooke, Pearl and Petrel. From the Straits Directory, 1881, Khoo Teong Poh was a partner in the Opium and Spirit Farm. source: Singapore Straits Directory 1881 source: Singapore Straits Directory 1881 source: NewspaperSG Death Khoo Tiong Poh died at the age of 62 on...

Ho Siew Tian and Gwee Lip Neo (Bukit Brown)

An early pioneer of Singapore, Mr. Ho Siew Tian (何秀填) came down to Singapore in 1882 and started a firm in his 20's in Beach Road then known as Chop Ho Hock Ann dealing in hardware and building materials. In 1948 it became a limited company and he subsequently was the Chairman until he retired a few years later leaving his company to his children. Mr. and Mrs. Ho Siew Tian ( 何秀填 ) A dinner party was given on 21 March 1950 by Messrs. Ho Cheow Chan, Ho Cheow Hin, Ho Chew Hua, Ho Cheow Chye, Ho Cheow Cheng and Ho Cheow Hock in honour of their father, Mr. Ho Siew Tian for his 81st Birthday at their residence, 47 Lorong 29, Geylang. In fact his birthday parties were mentioned several times in the papers over the years and it was well attended by family and relatives. Ho Siew Tian and family on his 85th birthday Mrs. Ho Siew Tian (alias Madam Qwee Lip Neo) passed away at the age of 77 at her residence, 47 Lorong 29 Geylang on 30 July 1948 at 9 pm, leaving b...

Lim Soon Hee (Bukit Brown)

Lim Soon Hee passed away at the age of 75 at his residence, No. 233 Joo Chiat Road at 5:30pm on 29 January 1935. He leaves behind 2 sons, Messrs. Lim Kim Watt and Lim Teck Whye, 3 daughters-in-law and several grandchildren (this is from the obituary notice from the newspapers). The names of the children listed on Lim Soon Hee's tomb: Son: Lim Teck Whatt, Lim Teck Whye Grandsons: Lim Kim Bock, Lim Kim Bee, Lim Kim Bah, Lim Chye Hock, Lim Chin Hock Granddaughters: Lim Chye Neo, Lim Chwee Neo, Lim Heng Neo, Lim Huat Neo Note: There is a mistake likely in the obituary notice as the son engraved on the tomb of Lim Soon Hee is Lim Teck Whatt and not Lim Kim Whatt Tomb of Lim Soon Hee A lead: Chua Boon Swee grandfather is Lim Soon Hee Today 2 Feb 1935 - Yan Leng Hean Association - Funeral of Mr. Chua Boon Swee's grandfather- 233 Joo Chiat Road, 9:30 am. (This article confirms the relationship but the problem is mapping the family tree would be a challenge). Location of tomb...

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Heritage in S'pore and M'sia

All things Bukit Brown
Singapore Tombstones Epigraphic Materials 新加坡墓碑铭集录
Bukit Brown Cemetery
Bukit Brown Trails
Burial Registrar
Bukit Brown Documentation of Graves
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Historic Chinese Architecture in Singapore
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Focus Ubin
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