Guided Tour of Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery

Geylang Serai conventionally refers to the area of businesses and residences surrounding Geylang Serai Market. It is an area that stretches eastwards from Paya Lebar Road to Jalan Eunos, and includes the social, industrial and commercial spaces along Geylang Road, Changi Road, Sims Avenue, as well as minor roads within the area.

During the first half of the 19th century, Geylang Serai was one of the earliest settlements to spread out from Singapore Town (known today as the Civic District). The area started out with small farm holdings and larger plantations cultivating rice, lemongrass, citronella and coconut before it was transformed into a bustling centre of commerce as well as a residential suburb.

Curated by Malay Heritage Centre, with support from the Malay Heritage Foundation, the Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery​ presents an overview of the area's history and heritage through the use of archival materials and historical objects, many of which are on loan from Kampong Ubi Community Centre Malay Museum. The gallery also features the experiences, memories and contributions of past and present residents of Geylang Serai.

Although it was developed much later than areas such as Kampong Gelam and Telok Blangah, Geylang Serai has long been associated with the Malay community of Singapore. The existence of a "Malay Burying Ground" in an 1844 map indicates a settled Malay community in the upstream tributaries of Geylang River (near present-day intersection of Geylang Road, Paya Lebar Road and Guillemard Road).

Complete your guided gallery tour with a taste of Malay food at the Geylang Serai Market's heritage malay stalls.

Geylang Serai Market was completed in 1964 as part of the 1962 Redevelopment Plan to modernise Geylang Serai. The market was bounded by Blocks 2 and 3, Jalan Pasar Baru and Taj Cinema. The original market, popularly known as pasar baru, was divided into three sections: the wet market where customers could buy fresh produce, meats and fish; a designated area for cooked food stalls; and an arcade area for clothes, sundry items and shops providing a variety of services.

Geylang Serai Market served the residents of Geylang Serai for more than forty years. It was the social and economic centre of the area. In 2006, as part of an upgrading programme, the original market was demolished and replaced by a newer market that officially opened in 2010. The new Geylang Serai Market comprises two storeys and has an expanded seating area for the cooked food section as well as a more accessible and cleaner wet market section.

Join this guided tour curated for Singapore Press Club members and friends

Date: 18 May 2024, Saturday

Time: 10am - 12noon

Meeting Point: Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery main entrance

Register early as limited to only a group of 20.

Due to limited places, a token registration fee will be charged. No refunds for no show.

The duration of the walking tour is about 1.5 hours. Participants are recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes, light clothes suitable for the weather, as well as to bring along a bottle of water and an umbrella.

Parents/guardians must accompany any child under the age of 12, and must buy their own ticket if so.

By registering for this programme, participants agree:

a) that the personal information supplied will be strictly used for the purposes stated above;

b) that NHB and the programme organiser may take photographs and/or videos of them (or their child as applicable) and use the images and/or videos including to archive, exhibit and publish them for publicity or any other NHB purposes; and

c) for NHB to contact them regarding the programme that they have signed up for, as well as other communication that may be of interest to them.