TANJONG PAGAR GATEPOSTS

These two cast-iron gate posts possibly date back to 1864, when they marked the entrance to ‘Victoria Dock’, owned by the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. By 1913, the colonial government had taken control of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company. They established the Singapore Harbour Board, which was eventually replaced by the Port of Singapore Authority [PSA]. The gateposts have remained in place, witnessing more than a century of the transforming docklands.

ANCHOR

Standing nearly two metres high, this anchor was commonly used in vessels during the 20^th century. Patented by John Francis Hall at the beginning of the 1900s, its lack of horizontal arms made it easier to stow in the ship through a hole known as the hawsepipe.

Its cylindrical shank (instead of the usual sharp-edged shanks) differentiates this model from other anchors. Refined from earlier anchor designs, Hall’s stockless anchor became the model for the modern anchors and continues to be used today.

STONE POSTS

These two stone posts have stood at the boundary of the P&O wharf since the 1850s. The P&O wharf was built at the New Harbour, where its deep-water conditions were ideal for the significantly larger steamships. The wharf likely stood in place until the Singapore Harbour Board bought it in 1926.

In 1977, the land was used to build the World Trade Centre, later renamed as HarbourFront Centre.

STEAM CRANE

This 10-ton Steam Crane, named Works Number 683, was made by John H. Wilson & Company of Sandhills, Liverpool. It was installed beside Albert Dock and ran along the docks on a fixed set of railway tracks.

The steam crane is composed of parts made by different companies in the UK. The railway tracks for the steam crane were supplied by the British Steel Corporation’s (BSC) rail making plant in Workington. They also once provided the rails for Singapore’s MRT systems for 30-40 years. These constant upgrades have allowed the steam crane to function for more than 100 years before its decommissioning in 1983.

MILD STEEL WINDOWS

The facades of St James Power Station feature tall mild steel windows with green glazing. The lofty windows resemble the those of cathedral buildings, bathing the interiors with a soft, diffused light. The signature green tint is characteristic of early glass windows, a popular material of the 1920s, which reduces glare from the harsh tropical sunlight.

The window design can be traced to a 1925 catalogue of the Crittall ‘Fenestra’ range. Founded during 1889 in Essex, England, Crittall Windows Ltd. pioneered the mass production of windows with minimum sightlines, strength, security, quality finishing and distinct elegance. These qualities made Crittall Windows sought-after for Modernist landmarks.

HARPOON

Commercial whaling was common in the mid-19th century and was historically associated with Imperial Union and later Soviet Union. This harpoon gun was mounted on a ship named ‘Voskhititely’ meaning ‘delightful’. The ship was in commission from 1962, and would often dock in Singapore during its expeditions to the Indian Ocean.

Whaling eventually declined in the 1970s due to its controversy. The harpoon gun was gifted in 1974 to the Maritime Museum before ‘ Voskhititely’ went out of commission in 1980.

THE NEW HARBOUR AND SURROUNDS

The New Harbour, at the present area around Keppel Harbour and HarbourFront Precinct, had its early beginnings in the 14^th century. The area was bustling with the movement of goods and people through new ports, roads and railways. St James Power Station was set close to the New Harbour for its proximity to the sea and port infrastructure, crucial to its operations.

Today, the harbour has transformed dramatically, with its former industrial use replaced by leisure and lifestyle activities over the past two decades. The historic artefacts displayed in this heritage trail are rare vestiges of Singapore’s first and oldest deep-water harbour.