Development of Telok Blangah

Telok Blangah is one of the oldest inhabited areas of Singapore and has a fascinating history. In the 14th century a visiting Chinese sailor called it Longyamen, or Dragon Tooth Strait, and described it as an area inhabited by barbarians. In the 17th century both the Dutch and Portuguese considered building a fort here to guard the Old Singapore Strait, and in the early 19th century it became the seat of the Temenggong, the de facto ruler of the Malay in Singapore.

From the middle of the 19th century the British started to develop their New Harbour here that was renamed Keppel Harbour in 1900, which became one of the busiest port in the world during the 20th century.

During this walk we will explore the area through the lens of old maps to see how it gradually developed into what it is now, and search for places where we can still see remnants of the past.