People Places Tours & Trails

37 Emerald Hill Site Tours

by Keep 37 Emerald Hill

18 - 19, 25 - 26 May • 10:00am
18 - 19, 25 - 26 May • 02:00pm

Come along for the first ever public site tours of 37 Emerald Hill, former home of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School, the first locally founded secular school for girls by our Straits-born community and conserved through a ground-up community effort.

Timings:

Saturday, 18 May | 10am - 11am, 2pm - 3pm

Sunday, 19 May | 10am - 11am, 2pm - 3pm

Saturday, 25 May | 10am - 11am, 2pm - 3pm

Sunday, 26 May | 10am - 11am, 2pm - 3pm

Meeting Point: Back gate of former SCGS, junction of Cairnhill Road and Emerald Link. Behind DesignOrchard

Fee: $15/pax

Registration Link: https://shf2437emeraldhill.peatix.com/ (Registration starts from 24 Apr, 12pm onwards)

Step into history with our 37 Emerald Hill tours, where we delve into the visionary contributions of Sir Song Ong Siang and Dr Lim Boon Keng, pivotal figures in elevating the Straits Chinese community and champions of girls' education. Discover SCGS's resilience during the Japanese occupation and experience the nostalgia of post-war transformations in Emerald Hill, Cairnhill, and Orchard Road. Led by knowledgeable guides of former SCGS teachers and students, explore the architectural gems crafted by local architect Seah Eng Choe. Immerse yourself in nostalgic tales of days gone by, enriched with anecdotes of school, life, and neighbourhood mysteries. Dive deeper into the community-driven initiative that preserved this historic site and explored creative ideas for its adaptive re-use, all while honoring its rich heritage and significance. Join us for an unforgettable journey through time and culture.

Keep 37 Emerald Hill

Singapore Chinese Girls’ School was started by a group of Straits-born Chinese with a vision of providing a secular, Singaporean education for local girls and this was fulfilled over many generations of girls who went to school at 37 Emerald Hill for nearly 70 years between 1926 and 1994. “Keep 37 Emerald Hill” was formed by a group of Singapore Chinese Girls’ School old girls who kick-started a community effort to seek conservation status for the old school buildings. A proposal was submitted to the Urban Redevelopment Authority in 2019 which highlighted the significance of the site from historical, social and architectural angles and proposed options for conservation and re-use. The effort was successful and the URA officially gazetted the Primary School block, the Principal’s House and the Song Ong Siang block for conservation under the URA’s Master Plan on 21 October 2019.

Other fascinating stories & events…

People Others

An Afternoon with GT Lye

11 May • 02:30pm

Join Baba GT Lye, a recognized Steward of Intangible Cultural Heritage, as he shares memories from his illustrious Peranakan theatre career in a special session hosted by Baba Alvin Tan.

Find out more Register

Places Tours & Trails

Amazing Race: Chinatown

10 May • 10:00am

10 May • 02:00pm

Explore an urban adventure through Chinatown's cultural labyrinth, solving puzzles that'll reveal Singapore's vibrant tapestry of harmony and heritage.

Find out more

Places Others

Char Yong Dabu Association Heritage Hall Open House and Guided Tours

10, 17 May • 12:00pm

Discover the cultural legacy of the Char Yong (Dabu) Association through guided tours of their heritage hall. Learn how this community organisation has preserved traditions while adapting to changing times, and experience how clan associations continue to maintain cultural connections for Chinese Singaporeans.