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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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Mrs. Tan Choon Long nee Madam Lee Keow Ee (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division D

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Chua Chim Chuan (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division A

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Lee Seng Joon (Lao Sua)

decorative tiles Fig Tree Lao Sua

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Sng Wah Guat and Seah Tee Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B marble

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Madam Tay Teck Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division B marble

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Goh Siew Chiang (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division C

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Ee Sian Poh (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division G Died Young

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Miss Lim Kim Chew (Bukit Brown)

Block 1 Division G Died Young

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Mass grave at Block 1 Division C plot 19

Block 1 Division C Died Young Youtube Shorts

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Tay Geok Hong (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G decorative tiles

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Mrs. Lim Tay Hin nee Madam Tan Seok Imm Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division A

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Seow Soon Teck and Koh Leong Hin Neo (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G will

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Tan Kiok Seng (Bukit Brown)

Block 2 Division G exhumed

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Chua Hoo Long (Bukit Brown)

block 2 Division H decorative tiles marble Youtube Shorts

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Labels

Bukit Brown894
Hill 3330
Died Young194
Hill 1184
decorative tiles174
Hill 4152
Block 3 Div D151
Block 4 Div A142
Block 3 Div C109
Block 4 Div C107

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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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Popular Post

Detective Tan Kee Chuan (Bukit Brown)

It started with Raymond Goh sharing a newspaper article about a police officer's funeral at Bukit Brown and the circumstances of his death while on active duty. Armed with the burial location, we eventually found the tomb and it was a very simple one unlike the other well-known policeman buried in Bukit Brown, Inspector Wong Chin Yoke . Soil movement has cause the headstone to dislodge from the tomb shoulder and the headstone has tilted slight with the engravings partially covered by soil. But finally at least we can now remember Detective Tan Kee Chuan (D.P.C. 748) who was killed on active duty on 30 July 1932. He was 24 years old when he died. Detective Tan Kee Chuan, (D.P.C. 748) Full Honours Accorded At Funeral The article describes the funeral service of Chinese policeman, Tan Kee Chuan (D.P.C. 748), who was murdered while on duty. The funeral was held at Bukit Brown cemetery on Monday morning with full service honors. All members of D division, along with N.C.O.'s repre...

Teo Sok Boon alias Teo Shanghai (Bukit Brown)

Mrs. Low Puay Kim nee Teo Shanghai passed away at the age of 31 at her residence No. 7, Lorong B, St. George's Road on 23 April 1929. On her tomb, her name is listed as Teo Shanghai and in the burial registrar, Teo Sok Boon. 12 years before she passed away she married Low Puay Kim . On 7 July 1917, Miss. Teo Sok Boon married Mr. Low Puey Kim at No. 156-2, Middle Road, Singapore. Mr. Low Puey Kim is the son of Mr. Low Chai Soon. of Swatow. Miss Teo Sok Noon is the eldest daughter of Mr. Teo Bah Tan. A reception was held at the Garden Club, Cairnhill. Tracing her story back further, i believe that in 1911, Teo Shanghai was a student in The Convent. What is also interesting is there is another person called Teo Sochoo (maybe her sister? ). In memory of Teo Shanghai Teo Shanghai (1911) Family Husband: Low Puay Kim In 1929, Low Puay Kim of No 7, Lorong B, St. George's Road (Phone No 6936) put up and advertisement warning people that his name was missued to get o...

Wee Beow Chwee and Lim Seok See (Bukit Brown)

Wee Beow Chwee (18 May 1894- 4 January 1968) Madam Lim Seok See (18 October 1898 - 23 August 1934) Sons: Wee Yam Tong, Wee Yam Lam, Wee Mui Pok, Wee Yam Khoon, Wee Sek Kay Daughters: Wee Kim Chye Wife: Mrs. Wee Beow Chwee nee Madam Lim Seok See Neo Mrs. Wee Beow Chwee nee Lim Seok See Neo passed away at the age of 37 at her residence, No 81, Wilkie Road on 23 August 1934. She leaves behind her her husband, 5 sons, 1 daughter, 1 brother, 3 sisters, her mother-in-law, 2 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law. Madam Lim Seok See Neo is a daughter of Mr. Lim Kwee Eng and Madam Cheang Cheow Lian Neo (daughter of Mr. Cheang Hong Lim ). Tomb of Lim Seok See and Wee Beow Chwee Family Mother: Madam Tan Swee Neo nee Mrs. Wee Chong Bee Mrs. Wee Chong Beng nee Tan Swee Neo passed away on 8th November 1937 at the age of 77. Listed on her tomb are the names of her children: Sons: Wee Peow Yong, Wee Beow Chwee Daughters-in-laws: Lim Peck See, Lim Seok See Grandsons: Wee Y...

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...

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...

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...

Lee Seng Joon (Lao Sua)

When we saw the fig engulfing the entire headstone as we approach this tomb in Lao Sua, first thought that came to my mind is identifying the person buried here is almost impossible. However, fortunately, on the circular decorative part of the tomb, etched on it is a name ! - it reads - In Loving Memory of Lee Seng Joon and on the other side, his year of death. 26th June 1917, age 54 years . With this i have a possible theory i could work on. Lee Seng Joon Died 26 June 1917 Tomb of Lee Seng Joon engulfed by fig tree. Possible connection Wife: Mrs. Lee Seng Joon nee Madam Tay Seok Lian M rs. Lee Seng Joon nee Madam Tay Seok Lian passed away at the age of 64 on 28 September 1932. She is buried in Bukit Brown Cemetery. Name of children listed on the tomb included; Sons: Lee Cheng Siang, Lee Cheng Tee alias Sin Choe, Lee Cheng Chee, Lee Cheng Sim Daughter: Lee Geok Choo Grandson: Lee Yeow Koon, Lee Yeow Hye, Lee Yeow Whatt, Granddaughters: Lee Cheo Tee,...

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...

Ravensway & Co. Undertaker and Monumental Mason

Many hotels and European houses have dining halls paved with white marble. This article features one of the company that is the memorial stone or monumental stone business, Ravensway & Co. Established in 1881, Messrs. Ravenway & Co. Singapore branch was located at 187 Orchard Road and they had a large stock of monuments, tombstones and marble materials. A staff of 50 masons were employed and the marble used comes from Ipoh, Perak from quarries which employ over 250 staff. The products are then exported to Singapore, Penang, Sumatra, Java, India and other parts of the east. Jacob Cornelius Von Ravensway, a Dutch came to Singapore late 1850's, early 1860. Before that he was in Sumatra was connected with the tobacco industry. He came to Singapore when he was about 40 years old and was involved in tin and rubber. In 1881, he established the firm of Messrs Ravensway and Co, Singapore at 187 Orchard Road and had about 40 or 50 staff employed. In 1909, Jacob Cornelis van Ravens...

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. ...

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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
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Nature in S'pore and M'sia

Focus Ubin
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