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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 with the label old photo

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Earliest known photograph of Bukit Brown Cemetery Temple ?

Bukit Brown old photo +0 temple

Bukit Brown old photo temple

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Bukit Brown Sheds and Superintendent House

October 23, 2024

Bukit Brown Images from the Past +0 old photo

Bukit Brown Images from the Past old photo

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Photo from the tomb of Madam Chia Swee Peck (Bukit Brown in the past)

January 07, 2024

Block 3 Div D +0 old photo

Block 3 Div D old photo

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Ho Soon Neo (Lao Sua)

Greater Bukit Brown Lao Sua old photo + tan gulong

Greater Bukit Brown Lao Sua old photo tan gulong

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Bukit Brown968
Hill 3326
Hill 1185
Hill 4169
Died Young150
Block 3 Div D137
decorative tiles135
Block 4 Div A117
Hill 298
Block 3 Div B90

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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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Popular Post

Mr. Lim Teck Kin

An article that caught my eye which states that on 27 May 1951, more than 4,500 relatives and friends attended the funeral of the late Mr. Lim Teck Kin, a Chinese millionaire, pineapple magnate, rubber dealer and sole proprietor of Messrs. Teck Hin and Co. at Bukit Brown Cemetery, Bukit Timah . Another thing that caught my eye was that he was murdered under the orders of the Communist Party of Malaya also known as the Malayan Communist Party. Mr. Lim Teck Kin came to Singapore from Fukien (Fujian) in 1904. He owned the United Malayan Pineapple Growers and Canners Ltd. with a factory in Scudai, Johore. Beside pineapple (which the papers said that he once held a record sales of pineapples to Europe and America), he was one of the principal agents for Shell Company oil. He managed several benzine kiosk with the main one being in Beach Road (Kian Hin) and a dealer in motor tyres and spare parts. He was also well-known in Trengganu where he owned Teck Siong and Company, dealing in General m...

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...

Cheang Sam Teo (Bukit Brown)

Cheang Sam Teo (章三潮 ) migrated from China (Teang Thye Village in the Fujian Province) around 1820 and started a business in partnership with Tay Han Long (father of Tay Ho Swee) under the chop Teang Wat at Telok Ayer Street and for some time held the monopoly of the Opium and Sirih Farms and later Opium and Spirit Farms. After Cheang Sam Teo's death in 1862, the firm was known as Cheang Hong Lim & Co. chop Teang Wat Wan Kee which in later years became chop Wan Seng. Cheang Sam Teo and his title (进士 Jin Shi) Cheang Sam Teo passed away in 1862 (will was date 6 March 1862) 进士 Jin Shi I learned from Raymond Goh that there seem to be a scholastic title (进士 Jin Shi) associated with Cheang Sam Teo's tomb inscription. This scholaristic title is a very highly regarded title, and is not known if it can be brought, as what Cheang Hong Lim did for him and his sons. Even Khoo Seok Wan , the scholar poet, was not able to pass and obtain this highest ranking title. Khoo Se...

Cheang Hong Guan (Bukit Brown)

Cheang Hong Guan /Chiang Hong Guan is the younger brother of Cheang Hong Lim and son of Cheang Sam Teo . Cheang Hong Guan tomb in Bukit Brown Chiang Teo and Sons / Chop Teang What of Cheang Hong Lim and Cheang Hong Guan Wife: Madam Tan Kim Tee Neo Madam Tan Kim Tee Neo passed away on 24 May 1925 at the age of 66. She is survived by 1 son, Cheang Kiam Kiong, 1 daughter, 1 son-in-law; Ng Keok Pang, 1 daughter-in-law, 1 grandson. Cheang Poh Hock, and 2 grand daughters The funeral of the late Madam Tan Kim Tee Neo, widow of the late Mr. Cheang Hong Guan and mother of Cheang Kiam Kiong took place on 28 May 1925. The cortege will leave from 678 Serangoon Road for Bukit Brown Cemetery. Son : Cheang Kam Keong (Cheang Kiam Keong) Daughter : Cheang Choo Lian, Cheang Bong Soo Brother vs Brother In April 1872, Cheang Hong Lim, Wee Bock Seng, Low Thuan Locke and Tan Beng Chie were brought to the courts on the indictment for the forgery of the will of Mr. Cheang Sam Teo (th...

Mrs. Lim Koh Seng nee Chia Swee Pek Neo (Bukit Brown)

Madam Chia Swee Pek Neo passed away at the age of 79 on 22 August 1935. The name of the children listed on her tomb are; Son: Lim Siew Hock, Lim Siew San , Lim Siew Long, Lim Teng Chew, Lim Siew Teng, Lim Siew Teck Daughters: Lim Chye Wee , Lim Geok Ann Grandsons: Robert Lim, Lim Cheng Chwee, Lim Yew Wee. Lim Yew Boon, Lim Yew Liang , Henry Lim. Lim Chwee Hoei, Lim ? Chwee, Lim Teck Guan, Billy Lim, Herbert Lim, Benson Lim, Lim Kim Swee, Granddaughters: Mary Lim, Annie Lim, Baby Lim, Lim Kwee Neo, Lim Choo Neo, Lim Chit Neo, Lim Beng Neo, Lim Chin Neo, Alice Lim, Daisy Lim, Ethel Lim, Freda Lim, Girlie Lim, Irene Lim, Jenny Lim, Annie Lim Lim Yan Neo, Lim Pek Neo, Lim Hoon Neo From the obituary headline notice that says 44 GRANDCHILDREN, dated 24 August 1935, i manage to gather more details. Mrs. Lim Koh Seng nee Chia Swee Peck Neo passed away at the age of 79 at her residence, 115 Koon Seng Road on 22 August 1935. She leaves behind 6 sons; Lim...

Sybil Medan Kathigasu (St. Michael's Catholic Church Ipoh Cemetery)

Sybil Medan Kathigasu ( 3 September 1899 - 12 June 1948) was born as Sybil Daly in Medan, Sumatra. She was the daughter of an Irish planter, Joseph Daly and Eurasian mother, Beatrie Mathilda Martin. While studying nursing and midwifery in Kuala Lumpur General Hospital, she met Dr. Arumugam Kanapathi Pillay, a Ceylonese. Faced with objections initially due to different religious background (she was Catholic and he, Hindu), he gain acceptance after becoming Catholic and taking the name Abdon Clement Kathigasu or Dr. A.C. Kathigasu. They married on 7 January 1919 at St. John's Church, Kuala Lumpur and eventually had 2 daughters and 1 adopted son. Sybil Kathigasu Together, they went into private practice with the clinic located at 141 Brewster Road, Ipoh but moved to Papan (a town outside of Ipoh), when the Japanese invaded Malaya. They established a clinic at No. 74 Main Street. During the Japanese occupation they continue to operate their clinic but got into trouble when they provide...

Tan Kim Tee and family (Bukit Brown)

Tan Kim Tee was a trader and a property owner. Originally from Java, Indonesia, Tan Kim Tee and his wife, Lim Siok Neo moved to Singapore in 1923. Tan Kiem Tie (Private) Limited was a holding company incorporated in 1931 that also dealt with owning and leasing of property. The beautiful tomb Mr. and Mrs. Tan Kim Tee were recently restored. Madam Lim Siok Neo was not buried in Bukit Brown although her tomb was also prepared. Listed are the names of their children: Son: Tan Sin Khing Daughter: Tan Kin Nio Daughter-in-law: Kwee See Nio Grandsons: Tan Siong Lim, Tan Siong San, Tan Siong Hoo Granddaughter: Tan May Hua Tan Kim Tee Mr. Tan Kim Tee passed away at the of 75 on 2nd October 1945. The circumstances of his death was tragic. Wife: Lim Siok Neo Great-grandmother, Mrs. Tan Kiem Tie nee Lim Siok Neo passed away at the age of 101 on January 1975. Her son, Tan Sin Khing (then 63) of 18 Balmoral Road said his mother warded to hospital after a fall in the house during Christmas. Mrs. ...

Qing Ming with the descendants of Lian Hee (Bukit Brown)

I am very fortunate again to able to approach another family, this time the Lian family as they were conducting their Qing Ming rituals in Bukit Brown. Their great granduncle tomb is maintained by tombkeeper Queenie and fortunately located very near the road. The tomb of Mr. Lian Hee is a very simple - only a headstone without any tomb shoulders. It is from the Lian family i found a few more details - They are Teochews and that Mr. Lian Hee was single when he passed away in 1930. I was fortunate to have Raymond around because he managed to find the burial entry after some difficulty. Mr. Lian Hee passed away at the age of 35. One of the puzzling thing they shared with us although the knew their great granduncle was single when he passed away - however on Mr. Lian Lee's tomb, the name of their grandfather was visible. That got me thinking that it could be fengshui element were for a single person who passed away at their prime, a "son or daughter" name was added to improve...

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...

Funeral of Yong Yit Lin (Images from the Past)

Photos from a wake and funeral with the caption "Mr. Yong Yit Lin" caught my eye from the Elliot Collection of photos which accessible online from the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology website . It is an amazing series of photos that gives rare and private insight to this historical event which are often hard to find. I had to research further and the below are some of the things i found out. Yong Yit Lin arrived in Malaya in 1913 at the age of 16 and was a tin miner, carpenter and clerk before venturing into construction. He was lucky when he in the 1920s, the Public Works Department (PWD) in Seremban awarded him to build fences and gateposts for the British Resident of Negeri Sembilan, Mr Ernest Wolff. When the Resident later move to Singapore, he remember the good work of Mr. Yong, he invited him to tender for government construction projects. That led to bigger projects for many well-know buildings in Singapore such as Clifford Pier, Changi Prison and MacDonald Hous...

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