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The National Heritage Board (NHB) announced Monday (7 December) that it has gazetted the former Fullerton Building as the republic’s 71st National Monument.
Situated next to the Singapore River, the neoclassical building now known as The Fullerton Hotel (pictured) opened in 1929 and was once Singapore’s General Post Office. It also housed several government departments where some of the nation’s pioneer leaders began their careers.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the building has a long history and has been, in many ways, a part of the lives of Singaporeans.
Mr Lee also said shared how the Fullerton Building was also an important reference for public roads in Singapore. “Back then, the British used the milestone system for measuring road distances. Milestones (are) placed along roads all over Singapore and people used these milestones to navigate across the island,” Mr Lee said, adding that the building had been known as “Mile Zero”.
According to NHB, when a building is gazetted under the Preservation of Monuments Act, it is preserved with the highest form of recognition for its national significance. “The evaluation of potential gazettes is based on a building or site’s historical, architectural and social importance in Singapore’s built heritage landscape.”
The former Fullerton Building joins Jurong Town Hall and Istana Kampong Gelam in NHB’s list of gazetted national monuments for this year. The gazette also concludes the government’s series of gazettes in celebration of Singapore’s Golden Jubilee.
Image source: NHB, The Fullerton Hotel
Nikki De Guzman, Editor at CommercialGuru, wrote this story. To contact her about this or other stories email nikki@propertyguru.com.sg
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