Esplanade Park - Memory Aids

The Esplanade c 1954. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).
 

 Mrs McNiece receives a bouquet of flowers during the opening of Elizabeth Walk on 30 May, 1953.  Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The Esplanade c 1920. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

 No highrise buildings in the horizon at Queen Elizabeth Walk in 1957. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

A penny for your thoughts? Watching with solitude at the Queen Elizabeth Walk circ 1950. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature. ~ Albert Einstein

Solitude is strength; to depend on the presence of the crowd is weakness. The man who needs a mob to nerve him is much more alone than he imagines. ~ Paul Brunton

The best spot for a photo at the Queen Elizabeth Walk with the General Post Office Building in the background. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

A photo taken with former President Ong Teng Cheong with friends at the Queen Elizabeth Walk in 1955. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The same favourite spot for photograph (below) at the Esplanade Park today. Did you "Spot the Difference"?

Clue: The Fullerton Hotel was the former General Post Office Building.


The photos (above and below) of Tan Kim Seng Fountain relocated within the Esplanade Park several times over the century. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The Victorian cast-iron fountain has been part of Singapore’s urban landscape since 19 May 1882. It was built by the Municipal Council to commemorate Tan Kim Seng, a leading trader and philanthropist. In 1857, he donated a sum of $13,000 in 1857 to the Municipal Council for the purpose of bringing free piped water to the Town.

Did anybody heard about "Newater" from Singapore almost 145 years ago then?

The Cenotaph is Singapore's first major war memorial. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The photos (above and below) of The Cenotaph of the inscription at the base reads:

"They died that we might live".

The former Satay Club at Queen Elizabeth Park - Then. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Gibson and Bedoe at Queen Elizabeth Park c 1957. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The diners at Esplanade Restaurant at Esplanade Park in 1952. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

The photo shown below the same spot at Esplanade Park - Now. A quiet stroll down memory lane for peace and tranquility, far away from the madding crowds.

The family picnic at the Queen Elizabeth Park under the shade of the big, strong tree. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

Do you know what was the hawker selling at the push-cart at Queen Elizabeth Walk? Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).

For the answer to this quiz, please check it at the bottom of this blog.

Singapore River at low-tide at the Queen Elizabeth Walk. Photo Credit: National Archives of Singapore (NAS).



Photos of the stone benches facing the sea (above - Then) and the same spot of the benches located at Esplanade Park (below - Now). The two photos were taken at different times, over 60 years apart since then and now.

Same Place. Different Times. Different People.



Did you notice the coconut tree in this photo?

Esplanade Park at the same spots - Now

This is the same spot taken at the Esplanade Park now. The coconut tree is gone. In the direction of Raffles City in the background.

Photos of the Esplanade Park at the seaside and the rows of stone benches shown below -Now

This blog of "Spot the Difference" with the help of everyone who can remember the same place at different times for your "memory game" for mind skill training.

The answer to the above quiz of the hawker push-cart here .

Comments via email:

Queen Elizabeth Walk - ah I remember this Gor Jang Chew Kar (under the five trees). When I was living near Lau Pa Sat in my early years, my mother used to bring me there in the evening. Unfortunately, the problem was I did not know the English name for it - only the Hokkien name.

The problem reached boiling point when during one Art lesson, the Art teacher told us to draw Queen Elizabeth Walk. Where the hell was this place? I was stupid, or rather ignorant and innocent. So, I drew Queen Elizabeth walking. But then again hor, if I claimed to be so ignorant and innocent, how the hell I knew about Queen Elizabeth and the way she walked. hahahaha.

Anyway, thanks for the memory.

Cheers
Teik Loon
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Oh yes....my parents called it 海皮！like you said....seaside. I have been there back in the 70s. Watched the Giant Dragon Float spitting rings of lights after NDP in padang.

Sent from my iPad
Clifford Lee
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Queen Elizabeth Walk was known as Gor zang chiu ka (under 5 trees...though dunno if there were really five trees or not then)
The Walk was also the place where famous artists like Cheong Soo Pieng, once sold his paintings at. And so happens, Della Butcher, the "mother of Singapore artists", discovered there talents there, and started the first art gallery to sell their artworks...the rest is history.

marcus