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| Home > The Istana Grounds |
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"Tropical Renaissance", "the finest 'country-house' east of British India" - these are some of the phrases that had been used to describe the Istana. The Building with its tropical layout, statuesque columns and deep verandahs is built in the neo-Palladian Anglo-Indian style.
Government House, c.1930s. |
| Click on the above photo for enlarged view. |
Besides the Istana, the Sri Temasek within the Domain was completed at about the same time. This unique wooden building also has deep verandahs in the style of Malay houses.
Two other buildings of note within the Domain are the Villa and the Military Guardroom.
Genesis
The Istana was known as the Government House before Singapore attained internal self-government in 1959. Designed and built by the Colonial Engineer, Major John Frederick Adolphus McNair, it was completed in 1869.
In 1867, the Colonial Government under Governor Sir Harry St George Ord bought over 100 acres of land belonging to Charles Prinsep's nutmeg plantation. The foundation stone was laid by Lady Ord (wife of the Governor, Sir Harry St George Ord) in July 1867.
Construction of Government House. |
| Click on the above photo for enlarged view. |
The entire brickwork, exterior of plastering and most of the flooring and interior work of Government House were done by Indian convict labour. Indian convict labour were brought in from Bencoolen in Sumatra because the unskilled local coolies at that time who earned 3 - 7 cents per day were not capable of carrying out the classical design. They worked as stone masons, plumbers, carpenters, painters and stone cutters. They even operated the kilns (used for making bricks, mouldings, copings and architraves) that were constructed on site. For this, they were paid 20 cents a day.
An initial sum of S$100,000 was voted and approved by the Legislative Council for the building of Government House in July 1867 based on the first plan by Major McNair. However, a plan for a larger building was subsequently approved in place of the first plan. Major McNair, however, made the mistake of not providing an estimate for the larger building owing to the shortage of staff in the Public Works Department. As a result, there was insufficient fund to complete the Government House. Fortunately, at about this time, it become known that the Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria would be visiting Singapore. Major McNair seized this opportunity and cited among other reasons for an increase in budget that expenditure on items such as sun-shades, louvre boards, bells, cook's house, etc was necessary to get the Building ready for a visit by the Duke.
In February 1869, the Legislative Council approved an additional sum of S$40,000 without question. Subsequently, when the accounts were closed, the Government House was found to have cost S$185,000. |
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