The Eurasian community in Singapore may be small but it has a rich and proud heritage. This strong sense of community and history is captured in the galleries of the Eurasian Heritage Gallery at the Eurasian Community House.
The current version of the Eurasian Heritage Gallery reopened to the public on 22 September 2019, after more than a year of renovation.
Located on the third floor of the Eurasian Association, Singapore’s premises along Ceylon Road, the Eurasian Heritage Gallery consists of three different zones.
Eurasian Heritage Gallery: Tracing Roots
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This first zone of the Eurasian Heritage Gallery introduces the origins of the Eurasians.
As descendants of marriages between Europeans and Asians, Eurasians can trace their lineage back to the ports in the Southeast Asia region where colonial powers such as the British, Dutch and Portuguese settled.
They were amongst the earliest settlers in Singapore.
An interesting part of this gallery zone outlines where Eurasian communities sprung up in Singapore. For examples, certain areas such as Waterloo Street and Haig Road were more closely associated with the Eurasian community.
There are pull out maps that visitors can use to explore the various districts in greater details.
Continuing this theme of places associated with the Eurasian community, the corridor that leads to the next zone is entitled My Grandfather’s Road. This section highlights various roads in Singapore that have named after Eurasians.
Flipboards can be raised to reveal more details about the roads.
Eurasians in the Spotlight
The next section of the Eurasian Heritage Gallery is devoted to personalities from the Eurasian community.
Among the prominent Eurasians is Benjamin Sheares, Singapore’s President from 1971 till his death in 1981.
On display is the Order of Temasek medal that he wore when he was President of the Republic of Singapore. The medal was placed on his casket during his state funeral in 1981 and is now on loan tot he Eurasian Heritage Gallery.
Here, you can also find a model of the Bahau Catholic Colony. This was an area in Negeri Sembilan that was established by the Japanese authorities during World War II. It was a scheme where people, especially from the Eurasian community, were resettled out from Singapore to live in an agricultural settlement.
Another story that is remembered at the Gallery is that of Halford Boudewyn.
After escaping being interned in a Prisoner of War (POW) camp during the Japanese Occupation of Singapore, he became involved in gathering intelligence for the Allies. This even required him to disguise as a vegetable seller to infiltrate a POW camp.
Taste of Tradition
The last section of the Eurasian Heritage Gallery celebrates the community’s customs, traditions and achievements.
On display are personal items such as a baptism gown and tableware. These provide a look at into the domestic and family life of Eurasian households.
There is also a section that pays tribute to recreational and sporting achievements by Eurasians.
We also enjoyed the wall panels that provided an introduction to Eurasian lingo.
The Eurasian Heritage Gallery provides a good overview of the community’s story. It also showcases that richness and diversity behind the moniker “Eurasian”.
In addition to visiting the Gallery, a visit to Quentin’s Eurasian Restaurant on the ground floor of the Eurasian Community House is a great way to “get a taste” of the Eurasian heritage through its cuisine.
There is also a small playground at the Ceylon Road Interim Park, next to the Eurasian Community House.
Eurasian Heritage Gallery
Where: Eurasian Community House, 139 Ceylon Road, Singapore 429744
Website: Eurasian Association website
If you enjoyed this story, we think that you may also be interested in the Katong-Joo Chiat Heritage Activation Node.
