Sembawang: History

11 July 2008

Sembawang Naval Base
Sembawang was originally planned as a naval base. The construction of the Naval Base started in 1923 and was completed in 1941. The King George VI dry dock completed in 1938 was designed to take the largest warships afloat. Its associated facilities include the 15-inch guns and barracks at Changi and the Sembawang Air Base.

The Naval Base area also includes residential developments. The street has names associated with colonies of the British Empire. The main road, Admiralty Road, is named to reflect the area association with the Naval Base.

The bungalows to the west of the naval base were the residence for the British naval officers. The buildings were built after World War II and has characteristic of the colonial architecture of that period.

Ulu Sembawang
Ulu Sembawang used to be a large rubber plantation. The rubber plantation was cleared in 1987 for the development of Woodlands New Town Neighbourhood 5 and Neighbourhood 6.

Gambas Avenue is named after the Arab lute. The road alignment follows the old Jalan Ulu Sembawang, which is the main track during the kampong days.

Sembawang New Town
Sembawang New Town is a small-scale new town developed by Housing & Development Board (HDB) in 1995. Unlike Sengkang New Town that is planned and constructed in the same year, the boundaries of neighbourhoods in Sembawang New Town are not demarcated by major roads. Similar to Bukit Panjang New Town, streets in Sembawang New Town retain the same name when it crossed the boundaries of neighbourhoods.

The Design Plus Scheme is first introduced in Sembawang New Town with the construction of Brookview Gardens. Under this scheme, high quality flats are designed and build by HDB architects.

Sungei Sembawang, a typical storm canal, is enhanced with riverside landscaping to bring nature closer to the doorstep of residents. Lookout points and a park connector are constructed along the river for jogging and cycling.

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