Modernity kills nostalgia, and in Singapore, the pace of development has relentlessly banished once popular spots for Singaporeans into the abyss.
Here are 5 places in Singapore which the millennials can only imagine since they have long been erased from our national landscape.
1. National Theatre
The National Theatre was officially opened in 1963 to commemorate Singapore’s elf-government. It was Singapore’s largest national theatre back in the day, and the likes of the Bee Gees, The Hollies and Shirley Bassey have all performed at the National Theatre. It was also the venue for the National Da Rallies until the venue shut down in 1984. It was demolished in 1986. PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA
2. National Library
The National Library was designed and built by the Public Works Department in 1960. However, the library and its roots can be traced back all the way to the 1800s when Sir Stamford Raffles stepped into Singapore. The library was opened by President Yusof Ishak in 1960 but was torn down in spite of public sentiment which was against its demolition. PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA
3. Big Splash
Long before Universal Studios and Legoland in Johor, Singaporeans had the Big Splash at the East Coast Park. The attraction was developed in 1977 at a cost of $6 million and had four different pools, which were all filled with seawater. The water slides disappeared in 2006 after a new tenant took over the administration of the area. PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA
4. Old National Stadium
The old National Stadium in Kallang was opened in 1973, just in time for the 1973 Southeast Asian Games which Singapore hosted. The stadium was the site for the National Day Parade on 18 occasions since opening in 1983. It was also the venue for the Malaysia Cup football matches from the 1970s all the way to 1994. The National Stadium was torn down in 2010 to make way for the Singapore Sports Hub which was opened in 2014. PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA
5. Sentosa Musical Fountain
The Sentosa Musical Fountain was opened in 1982 and was the venue for many special performances till its closure in 2007. It was also venue for a gala dinner held for the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation in 1996. Then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong lit the flame for the 1993 Southeast Asian Games at the symphony stage when Singapore hosted the biennial Games. PHOTO: WIKIPEDIA
