Most people know where is the Singapore River mouth* - it is at the heart of Singapore's Central Business District and a world class entertainment hub. Fewer people know where is its riverhead, where is its source.
Curious?
Let's look for it together.
👌 I made an unexpected discovery that proves that Singapore River and Pandan River were once, one single water system.
*Technically, with the damming of Singapore River with the Marina Barrage in 2008, there is no river mouth as it is now a reservoir.
Singapore River is about 5km long from Marina Barrage to the start of Alexandra Canal today (where the water goes underground).
Kim Seng Bridge at Great World City is considered the start of Singapore River, so the official length of Singapore River is 3km.
 |
| Image credit: Screen grab from Google Map |
 |
| Map of Singapore in 1918. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
The area south of the start of "Alexandra Canal" which was a stream were cemeteries and a few small hills.
So, this is the elusive source of Singapore River.
 |
| Image credit: Screen grab from Wikipedia |
The visible stretch of Alexandra Canal now starts near the intersection of Alexandra Road and Tanglin Road (centre, left of map).
|
| Map of Singapore in 1918. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
This stream at No End River village was canalised to Alexandra Canal (probably as a flood control measure) which fed into the Singapore River.
Around 350 families lived in Boh Beh Kang village. Most of the villagers were from Tong’An 同安 District, Fujian with the surname Ang. They moved here upriver in the 1920s, looking for farmland as the lower reaches of Singapore River had become overcrowded. There were also some Teochew and Hakka villagers.
The villagers planted vegetables, fruit trees, rubber trees and reared pigs and chicken on Hong Hin Sua which stretched from Mei Ling Heights to Tanglin Halt.
Hong Lim Sua was then a cemetery of over 9,000 graves bounded by Stirling Road, Alexandra Road and Queensway.
The villagers worshiped at Tiong Ghee 忠义 Temple which was founded in 1931. It was an altar in one of the Boh Beh Kang village houses which grew into a temple over the years. Tiong Ghee Temple at Hong Hin Sua was demolished in 1968 to make way for Mei Ling Estate and moved to its present location at Stirling Road in 1973.
 |
| Air photo of Buller Camp & Boh Beh Kang Village in 1945. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
 |
| Buller Terrace at the junction of Commonwealth Ave and Alexandra Road in 1959. These flats were demolished. Today, it is Princess House. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
As development of Queenstown continued, Boh Beh Kang villagers were resettled. By 1970, everyone from Boh Beh Kang village was moved. Hong Hin Sua and Hin Lim Sua were flattened and their soil used to fill up the swamps. The area was used to expand Queenstown where around 53,000 people lived (in the 1970s).
 |
| Alexandra Canal in 2011. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
 |
| Pandan River mouth in 1986. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
It is likely that both the Pandan River and Singapore River riverheads were fed by the same swamps near Boh Beh Kang Village. Pandan River and the stream of Alexandra Canal were, once upon a time, one continuous stretch of water i.e. Singapore River and Pandan River were co-joined twins from the same parent.
 |
| Alexandra Canal before it was widened in 1963. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
 |
| Singapore in 1963. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
 |
| Google Map screen grab |
So, yes indeed, I believe that it is beyond reasonable doubt that Pandan River and Singapore River were once co-joined and one water system.
References:
Hidden Waters Blog
My Mind is Rojak Blog
 |
| In this map of Singapore dated 1905, Alexandra Canal began at the intersection of Singapore River and Delta Road. Alexandra Canal ran till the intersection with Tanglin Road and further to the west, it became a stream. The stream disappeared at the top left of the map around today's Commonwealth Ave and Queensway junction. Image credit: National Archives of Singapore |
Date: 3 July 2020