The National Heritage Board has launched a refreshed Civic District Heritage Trail that explores communities who once lived, worked, and played in the area. Walking enthusiasts can look forward to thematic routes and discover stories and research about the civic centre’s early days.
If joining a guided tour is preferred, participate in the three kinds of tours available with different durations to suit varied attention spans! Lion Heartlanders will be conducting the tours at $5 per head from 27 September till end of December 2025.
Significance of the Civic District
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The Civic District stretches from the northern bank of Singapore River, to Bras Basah and Fort Canning. It became a melting pot when Singapore’s earliest immigrants across Asia and beyond arrived to start lives anew. This was where tight-knit communities were formed and the district was transformed into the vibrant heart of Singapore.
Three Routes at Civic District Heritage Trail
Choose from three trails of varying lengths and durations.
Families with young children can take the Journey to Nationhood trail which is a mere 550 metres or 30 minutes to complete. The route traces the key milestones of Singapore’s journey to nationhood that occurred at the Civic District, from post-World War II to independence.
Go on the Seeking Fortunes, Forging New Lives route centering the lives of early immigrants from around the world who arrived in Singapore after its founding in 1819. This route is 1 km long and takes an hour to complete.
The longest route is Functions of the Civic District which discovers key government functions and cultural institutions housed in Singapore’s Civic District through the centuries. It takes 1.5 hours to complete covering 2.2km.
Start by downloading the Civic District Heritage Trail companion guide. Trails are also available via Google’s OneMaps function.
Limited printed copies of the companion guide will also be available at selected sites such as the Asian Civilisations Museum, Fullerton Hotel Singapore, the Arts House at the Old Parliament, Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall, and Capitol Singapore.
$5 Tours by Lion Heartlanders
Those who prefer a guided tour option can join the weekend tours from 27 September to end-December 2025! Purchase your tickets from National Heritage Board’s Peatix site.
I thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour by Mark of Lion Heartlanders. While sharing facts, our humorous guide also peppered us with funny tidbits and insight to the significance of the buildings, their architectural style and famous incidences of the past.
Where Trails will Take Visitors
The Civic District Heritage Trail will take trailgoers to historical and cultural landmarks.
Masjid Al-Burhani known as a spiritual anchor of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Singapore. This small place of worship opened in 1897 and served as a gathering point for the community made up of skilled traders and merchants seeking new markets and opportunities.
Right next to it was home to Wee Ah Hood, a prominent pepper and gambier Teochew merchant in the mid-1800s now the premises of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCCI).
Founded in 1906, the Chamber was where leaders from different dialect groups and hometowns came together to represent the collective interests of the Chinese business community. This was instrumental in facilitating relations with the imperial Chinese and British governments and later played a key role in Singapore’s political and economic development.
Civic District was also a well-loved leisure and entertainment district.
Did you know there was a private mansion next to Capitol Theatre? When it first opened in 1930, Capitol Theatre was known as the largest, best equipped cinema in the East. This project was funded by a Persian businessman Mirza Mohamed Ali Namazie who had a block next to it called Namazie Mansions known later on as “Capitol Building”.
Some of us remember MPH Building fondly, which was the air-conditioned red building right across the red-bricked National Library building. Many of us growing up in the 1950s to 1980s would have gathered in the Civic District for dining, recreation, and shopping.
For those who are older, you might recall the departmental store Bobby O which was located at the former Stamford House! The founder of the departmental store was not Mr Bobby O but Mr Lalwani who named the store after the drink kopi o. It was known to many especially tourists who had their shopping delivered if their hotels were in the vicinity.
Take a Stroll in the Civic District
There’s much to learn and uncover at Civic District Heritage Trail. Download your free companion guide and start the enriching walk with the family!
