The Civic District I

An Obelisk

An obelisk is a tall stone pillar with a square base and sides that taper to a pointed top. Over time, obelisks have became associated with timelessness and memorialization.

Dalhousie

Lord James Andrew was the Marquise of Dalhousie. He was the Governor-General of India from 1848 to 1856.

The Purpose

This monument was named after the Marquise of Dalhousie for his visit to Singapore on 17-19 February 1850 was received in great anticipation of a change in local administration for it signaled a reduction in expenditure.

The Straits Settlements was under the Bengal Presidency and upon his return to India, the Marquis brought the Straits Settlements under his control as Governor-General. This was an important occurrence as the Straits Settlements has been dissatisfied with the rule of the East India Company in Calcutta since 1840.

This monument was built not only to commemorate the change in administration but also to remind merchants of the benefits of free trade which was the foundations of prosperity in Singapore.

The Move

1850: Original Location - On the Cenotaph site off Connaught Drive
1891 : First Move - A few yards from the original site as it obstructed traffic at the Connaught Drive and Anderson Bridge.
1911 : Second Move - To its present location which is nearer the actual spot where the Marquis landed.




The History...


The Obelisk was designed by Government Architect and Surveyor, John Turnbull Thomson. The residents of Singapore paid $5 subscription to aid the funding of its construction. This is why there are inscription in Jawi, Chinese, Tamil and English respectively on each side.



At the Moment...

However,from what we have learnt about Lord Hastings, it would seems redundant to erect a monument for a man who has only been in Singapore for a few days. Most people wouldn’t even know who he is and he is not even a footnote in our history book. So why is it still on the civic district trail. One has to realise that his presence in SIngapore was historically significant for this tiny island as it was a sign of good tidings. He is part of our colonial past and this trail commemorates that particular past.



Trivia

Did you know that the Dalhousie Obelisk's shape closely follows the famous Cleopatra's Needle?
Did you know that the landing jetty which was at the mouth of the Singapore River was named Dalhousie Pier and that area of the river-bank was called Dalhousie Ghaut?
There is an Dalhousie Lane (between Clive Street and Campbell Lane) commemorating the Marquis.

Please click on the picture(s) to view the enlarged version(s)