The Civic District I

The Plain a.k.a. The Padang (means field or open ground in Malay)

This oasis which takes center stage in an otherwise harried district was the location of Singapore’s first National Day.

In 1966, Singapore’s first President Yusof bin Ishak was met by her Defence Minister Dr. Goh Keng Swee while her Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and the rest of her guard waited patiently at the grandstand. Upon his arrival to the podium, Singapore’s National Anthem was played with a Presidential salute while her people gathered at the Padang.

21-gun salute boomed from the former Raffles Institution while our President walked the Padang viewing Singapore’s first independent parade.

At the Moment...

This historically rich ‘Plain’ witnesses Singapore whizzing past wait for the next magus opus so that she can claim her rightful spotlight; right in the thick of things.



Trivia

Did you know that the Residence of Colonel William Farquhar set up his residence here at the Padang (in between the present Singapore Recreation Club and Singapore Cricket Club)?

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