Sembawang
Encyclopedia
| Sembawang New Town | |
|---|---|
| Total area: | 7.08 km² |
| Residential area: | 3.76 km² |
| Dwelling units: | 17,874 |
| Projected ultimate: | 64,000 |
| Population: | 58,700 |
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament
Members of the Singapore Parliament
The following is a historical list of members for the current and past ten Parliaments of Singapore:-See also:*1st Parliament of Singapore*2nd Parliament of Singapore*3rd Parliament of Singapore*4th Parliament of Singapore*5th Parliament of Singapore...
for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan is a politician from Singapore. He is currently the country's Minister for National Development and the Chairman of the governing People's Action Party . He was previously the Minister for Health from August 2004 to May 2011...
. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands New Town, bordering the Woodlands, Marsiling and Admiralty constituency. It is the closest point to Malaysia.
The Sembawang Road End region contains some of the historically important colonial architecture which remains standing on the main land till this day. Towards the north-west lies the new residential town of Sembawang, replacing the previous satellite town of Sembawang Road End, of which the latter was phrased out in early 2004 under the Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme
Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme
The Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme, or SERS for short, is an urban redevelopment strategy employed by the Housing and Development Board in Singapore in maintaining and upgrading public housing flats in older estates in the city-state...
.
Despite the relatively large development in the new residential area, Sembawang remain a largely suburban residential area with military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
, industrial and recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
al facilities at its periphery. It hosted a major naval base
Naval base
A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
and port facilities since the early 20th century, and continues to handle regular shipping traffic today.
Etymology
The earliest reference to Sembawang is found in Franklin and Jackson's 1830 Map of SingaporeJackson Plan
The Jackson Plan of 1822, also known as the "Plan of the Town of Singapore", was an urban plan for Singapore drawn up to maintain some order in the urban development of the fledgling but thriving colony founded just three years earlier...
, which refers to the River Tambuwang. The place is said to have got its name from the Sembawang tree (Kayae ferruginea)
Kayea ferruginea
Kayea ferruginea is a plant belonging to Calophyllaceae family; It was renamed as Mesua ferruginea and references from 1980s refer to K...
, which has been renamed Mesua ferruginea from 1980. This tree can be seen at Carpark C1, Sembawang Park
Sembawang Park
Sembawang Park is a 15 hectare park situated in Sembawang, in the north of Singapore facing the Straits of Johor overlooking Malaysia. It is located at the end of Sembawang Road, where the former Sembawang Road End Bus Terminal is.-History:...
.
Bereft of its particle, sem, the second word, bawang, means "onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
" in Malay
Malay language
Malay is a major language of the Austronesian family. It is the official language of Malaysia , Indonesia , Brunei and Singapore...
.
History
The Sembawang area in the early twentieth century was the site of the Nee SoonYishun
Yishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
Rubber estate. During the colonial times, Sembawang was home to a major British naval base, its construction of which began in 1928 and was completed in 1938. The base included dockyards
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
, wharves and workshops, as well as supporting administrative, residential and commercial areas. The Naval Base has since been handed over to the Singapore government
Government of Singapore
The Government of Singapore is defined by the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore to mean the Executive branch of government, which is made up of the President and the Cabinet of Singapore. Although the President acts in his personal discretion in the exercise of certain functions as a check...
, which in 1968 converted it into a commercial dockyard (as Sembawang Shipyard, now part of Singapore Exchange
Singapore Exchange
Singapore Exchange Limited is an investment holding company located in Singapore and providing different services related to securities and derivatives trading and others. SGX is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges and the Asian and Oceanian Stock Exchanges FederationSingapore Exchange...
-listed SembCorp Marine
SembCorp Marine
Sembcorp Marine Limited is part of SembCorp Industries, an Asian company based in Singapore. It is listed on the Singapore stock exchange or SGX and is part of the Straits Times Index there...
) that went on to become Sembawang Corporation, a major state-owned industrial conglomerate
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
.
Military
The completion of Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's Singapore Naval Base
Singapore Naval Base
The Singapore Naval Base , situated in Sembawang at the northern tip of Singapore, was a Royal Navy Shore establishment as well as being a cornerstone of British Defence policy in the Far East between the World Wars.-History:After the Great War, the British government devoted...
(also known as HMS Sembawang) in 1938 and RAF Sembawang (also known as HMS Simbang) in March 1940 marked the start of military presence in Sembawang. In February 1942, both bases were partially torched and wrecked by the retreating British forces during the Battle of Singapore
Battle of Singapore
The Battle of Singapore was fought in the South-East Asian theatre of the Second World War when the Empire of Japan invaded the Allied stronghold of Singapore. Singapore was the major British military base in Southeast Asia and nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East"...
to deny their use by units of the advancing Imperial Japanese Army
Imperial Japanese Army
-Foundation:During the Meiji Restoration, the military forces loyal to the Emperor were samurai drawn primarily from the loyalist feudal domains of Satsuma and Chōshū...
. After the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1945, both bases were reverted to British control and would eventually go on to play an important part in Britain's continued military presence in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
(along with the three other RAF bases in Singapore: RAF Changi
Changi Air Base
Changi Air Base or Changi Air Base ', formerly the RAF Changi, is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located at Changi, in the eastern tip of Singapore...
, RAF Seletar
Seletar Airport
"RAF Seletar" & "Seletar Airbase/Airfield" redirects here.Seletar Airport is a civilian airport located at Seletar, in the northeastern region of Singapore, and is managed by the Changi Airport Group...
and RAF Tengah) during the critical period of Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
(1948–1960), the Brunei Revolt
Brunei Revolt
The Brunei Rebellion broke out on 8 December 1962. The rebels began co-ordinated attacks on the oil town of Seria and on police stations and government facilities around the protectorate...
in 1962 and during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation (1962–1966).
Despite the withdrawal of British forces from Singapore in 1971
East of Suez
The phrase East of Suez is used in British military and political discussions in reference to imperial interests beyond the European theatre ....
and the handover of the Singapore Naval Base to the Singapore Government in 1968, the British Ministry Of Defence (MoD)
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
continues to maintain a small logistics base at Sembawang wharf in order to control most of the foreign military activities there, which includes repair, refuel and resupply for ships of the Australian, British and New Zealand navies as well as those from other Commonwealth countries
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
under the auspices of Five Power Defence Arrangements
Five Power Defence Arrangements
The Five Power Defence Arrangements are a series of defence relationships established by a series of bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore signed in 1971, whereby the five states will consult each other in the event of external aggression...
(FPDA). This special arrangement was also extended to the United States Navy since early 1960s to support the American involvement in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
As part of a 1990 agreement between Singapore and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, American military forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
(primarily naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and air force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
) have been making use of Sembawang's base facilities. The Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) command has been headquartered in Sembawang since 1992, providing logistic
Military logistics
Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...
support for the U.S. 7th Fleet in its operations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
.
Sembawang Camp
The Sembawang Camp is a Singapore Armed ForcesSingapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
military base on Admiralty Road, open only to military personnel on official business. The camp houses the 1st and 3rd Transport Battalion of the Singapore Army
Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the branch of the Singapore Armed Forces responsible for land operations. It is the largest of the three armed services and heavily reliant on a conscript army, comprising the majority of Singapore's Operationally Ready National Servicemen .-Capabilities:The mission of the...
, as well as the Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
's Naval Diving Unit (NDU)
Naval Diving Unit (Singapore)
The Naval Diving Unit is a Special Forces unit of the Republic of Singapore Navy, and is regularly tasked in salvage operations, underwater mine demolition and commando-type warfare.-Recruitment:...
. Also, the compound housing the Naval Diving Unit was previously known as Terror Camp in deference to the old admin and Officers club section of the Royal Naval facility which was called HMS Terror.
Land reclamation
Extensive land reclamationLand reclamation
Land reclamation, usually known as reclamation, is the process to create new land from sea or riverbeds. The land reclaimed is known as reclamation ground or landfill.- Habitation :...
throughout Singapore has left Sembawang with one of the country's last natural beaches, the Wak Hassan Beach located at Sembawang Park
Sembawang Park
Sembawang Park is a 15 hectare park situated in Sembawang, in the north of Singapore facing the Straits of Johor overlooking Malaysia. It is located at the end of Sembawang Road, where the former Sembawang Road End Bus Terminal is.-History:...
. Today, the vegetable farms, rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
plantation
Plantation
A plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s and Chinese graveyards surrounding the former naval base have given way to modern housing, especially in the 1990s during the development of a New town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
by the Singapore Housing and Development Board. The town remains a major port, with Sembawang Wharves handling a high volume of bulk commodities cargo, such as timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
.
Roads and waterways
Yishun
Yishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
and Sembawang New Towns. The last of the villages, Kampong Wak Hassan, was cleared in 1998. Present day Sembawang Road is a major arterial road linking the Northern and Central portion of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
.
Many other roads in Sembawang are still named after various Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
Dockyards, warship
Warship
A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...
s, Admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
s, countries and cities. Examples include Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
and Falkland
Falkland
-Places:*Falkland, British Columbia, Canada*Falkland, Nova Scotia, Canada*Falkland Ridge, Nova Scotia, Canada*Falkland, Newbury, a ward of Newbury, Berkshire, England.*Falkland, Fife, a burgh in Fife, Scotland....
. These names were given during the previous British administration, and reflect the town's history as a British naval base
Naval base
A naval base is a military base, where warships and naval ships are deployed when they have no mission at sea or want to restock. Usually ships may also perform some minor repairs. Some naval bases are temporary homes to aircraft that usually stay on the ships but are undergoing maintenance while...
.
The main river running through Sembawang, the 4-kilometre Sungei Sembawang, flowed along a winding route and ended to the west of Sembawang Shipyard. Its middle section was diverted in the 1920s to provide the land needed for the British Naval Base. During the 1970s, the Northern portions of the river was straightened and canalised. The Southern portions of the river, which consisted of mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
s, pond
Pond
A pond is a body of standing water, either natural or man-made, that is usually smaller than a lake. A wide variety of man-made bodies of water are classified as ponds, including water gardens, water features and koi ponds; all designed for aesthetic ornamentation as landscape or architectural...
s and grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, was filled up in the 1990s in preparation for the development of Sembawang New Town.
Planning and construction
The planning of Sembawang New Town was first mentioned in the Urban Redevelopment AuthorityUrban Redevelopment Authority
The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the national urban planning authority of Singapore, and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Singapore Government.-Mission:The authority was established on 1 April 1974, and is of especially critical importance to the city-state,...
's Planning Report for Sembawang (1996). This Development Guide Plan, with the aid of zoning maps, highlights the various land zoning proposals, which eventually led to the creation of Sembawang New Town. This provides an interesting perspective to the development of the town. The Sembawang Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Station
Sembawang MRT Station
Sembawang MRT Station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, and the northernmost MRT Station of the North South Line and part of the Woodlands Extension. It is sited in Sembawang, a residential area which is just over 6 years old and still undergoing development. The first level...
serves as the central hub, around which residential, commercial as well as industrial zones mushroomed.
Public housing
The Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in the Sembawang Planning Area have been split among three divisions, each of which is represented by a Member of Parliament. The North West Community Development Council (CDC) is the local administration, initiating, planning and managing community programmes to promote community bonding and social cohesion.
Current and future development
In the Draft 2003 Master Plan, a Sembawang Activity Corridor was proposed. Plans are in place to develop an activity corridor stretching from the Sembawang Town Centre to the Jalan Legundi area. Mentioned in the Plan was the development of the Sembawang Bus InterchangeSembawang Bus Interchange
Sembawang Bus Interchange is a bus station located in Sembawang, Singapore. Opened on 20 November 2005, it provides hassle-free transfer to the nearby Sembawang MRT Station....
next to Sun Plaza, as well as a Sembawang Sports Complex at the junction of Sembawang Road / Canberra Road / Sembawang Avenue. Park connectors linking Sembawang MRT Station
Sembawang MRT Station
Sembawang MRT Station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, and the northernmost MRT Station of the North South Line and part of the Woodlands Extension. It is sited in Sembawang, a residential area which is just over 6 years old and still undergoing development. The first level...
and Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station
Woodlands MRT Station ' is an above-ground Mass Rapid Transit train station on the North South Line in Singapore. It is integrated together with the Woodlands Regional Bus Interchange located beneath the station and also Causeway Point Shopping Centre, which serves as a major shopping centre for...
are in the work, as well as a new park connector along Sungei Simpang Kiri from Yishun Avenue 2 to Sembawang Road, bringing people to the lively Sembawang Activity Corridor. A new Community Centre for Sembawang residents will be co-located with the existing Sembawang Neighbourhood Police Centre at Sembawang Drive.
Recent updates of the Sembawang Planning Area can be accessed here.
Communal facilities
- Sembawang MRT StationSembawang MRT StationSembawang MRT Station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, and the northernmost MRT Station of the North South Line and part of the Woodlands Extension. It is sited in Sembawang, a residential area which is just over 6 years old and still undergoing development. The first level...
. To preserve the kampong atmosphere of Sembawang, this station has a uniquely-shaped kampong-styled roof. Acceding to a request by workers from the Sembawang Shipyard, the Land Transport AuthorityLand Transport AuthorityThe Land Transport Authority is a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport of the Singapore Government.-History:...
constructed a bay for 350 bicycles as most of the workers cycle to and from work. This is in-line with the environmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentally friendly are terms used to refer to goods and services, laws, guidelines and policies claimed to inflict minimal or no harm on the environment....
mentality prevalent in the kampongs. - Shopping centres, including the Sun Plaza shopping centre next to the Sembawang MRT StationSembawang MRT StationSembawang MRT Station is an elevated Mass Rapid Transit station in Singapore, and the northernmost MRT Station of the North South Line and part of the Woodlands Extension. It is sited in Sembawang, a residential area which is just over 6 years old and still undergoing development. The first level...
, and Sembawang Shopping Centre which has opened. - The Sembawang Community Library, managed by the National Library BoardNational Library BoardThe National Library Board is a statutory board of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore...
is situated within the Sun Plaza shopping centre. It serves residents in the North West areas of Lim Chu KangLim Chu KangLim Chu Kang is a planning area located in the northwestern part of Singapore.-History:Lim Chu Kang Village was founded by Neo Tiew , a Chinese immigrant who was the sheriff of the village. The village is on the banks of the Sungei Kranji and was controlled by the Lim clan. Neo Tiew also set up a...
, MandaiMandaiMandai is the name of an urban planning area located in the North Region of Singapore. Mandai Road passes through the area, linking Woodlands Road to Upper Thomson Road....
, Sembawang, SimpangSimpangSimpang is an area on the north side of Singapore. It is located at the northeast part of Yishun Town. To the north of Simpang is Pulau Seletar....
, Sungei KadutSungei KadutSungei Kadut is an industrial estate located in the northwestern region of Singapore. It is bounded by Choa Chu Kang New Town, Mandai Estate and Kranji Reservoir. It is known for the extensive furniture making industries located in the area....
, WoodlandsWoodlands, SingaporeWoodlands, or the Woodlands New Town , is a suburban town in northern Singapore, part of the North West Community Development Council district...
and YishunYishunYishun, or Nee Soon as it was initially named, is a suburban town in the northern part of Singapore, encompassing the Yishun Planning Area, in the North Region, which includes Yishun New Town and the Nee Soon private residential estate....
. - Three primary schools (Canberra Primary SchoolCanberra Primary SchoolCanberra Primary School is a government co-educational primary school in Admiralty Drive, Singapore.-History:Canberra Primary School was established in January 2000. It takes the name of the old Canberra School which closed down in 1988....
, Sembawang Primary School, Endeavour Primary School and Wellington Primary School), and three secondary schools (Canberra Secondary School, Sembawang Secondary SchoolSembawang Secondary SchoolSembawang Secondary School is located in Sembawang, Singapore. The school was established in 1999 and was temporarily housed at Woodlands Ring Secondary School for nine months before moving to its current location at 30 Sembawang Crescent.-History:...
and the holding campus of Naval Base Secondary School, located there due to PRIMEProgramme For Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schoolsProgramme for Rebuilding and IMproving Existing schools is a programme initiated by the Ministry of Education in 1999 to upgrade and rebuild school buildings in Singapore.-Flexible School Infrastructure :...
). - Sembawang Bus InterchangeSembawang Bus InterchangeSembawang Bus Interchange is a bus station located in Sembawang, Singapore. Opened on 20 November 2005, it provides hassle-free transfer to the nearby Sembawang MRT Station....
, strategically located next to Sun Plaza, was completed in December 2005. This replaced the old bus interchange located at the Northern tip of Sembawang Road, just next to Sembawang ParkSembawang ParkSembawang Park is a 15 hectare park situated in Sembawang, in the north of Singapore facing the Straits of Johor overlooking Malaysia. It is located at the end of Sembawang Road, where the former Sembawang Road End Bus Terminal is.-History:...
. Some photos of the old interchange can be found here.
Bottle Tree Village
The Bottle Tree Village is located at the end of Jalan Mempurong and is known for its Bottle Trees (Brachychiton rupestris) flown in from QueenslandQueensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Apart from these, other Australian flora can be spotted in the surroundings.
Sembawang Park
Sembawang ParkSembawang Park
Sembawang Park is a 15 hectare park situated in Sembawang, in the north of Singapore facing the Straits of Johor overlooking Malaysia. It is located at the end of Sembawang Road, where the former Sembawang Road End Bus Terminal is.-History:...
, a 15 hectare tranquil park developed in the 1970s and maintained by the National Parks Board
National Parks Board
The National Parks Board is a statutory board of the Singapore Government.The National Parks Board is responsible for providing and enhancing the greenery of Singapore. NParks manages around 300 parks, the park connector network and the roadside greenery in Singapore...
, is situated at the Northern tip of Sembawang Road. One of the few parks in Singapore with a natural beach, the Wak Hassan Beach, this park is a heaven for city dwellers who are tired of the never-ending concrete buildings and sky-scrapers. It's a popular spot for campers as well as families who wish to spend an idyllic day by the beach. One can dine at the Beaulieu House, built in 1910, which was the residence of Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton
Geoffrey Layton
Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton GBE, KCB, KCMG, DSO , was a British Royal Navy officer.-Early life and career:...
(Commander-in-Chief British Eastern Fleet
British Eastern Fleet
The British Eastern Fleet was a fleet of the Royal Navy which existed from 1941 to 1971...
, 1940–1942). A wide range of fauna and flora awaits visitors, ranging from the spectacular Cannon Ball tree (Couroupita guianensis) to the many species of birds which have made the park their nesting grounds.
Sembawang Park Connector
The Sembwang Park Connector is part of the Park Connector Network managed by the National Parks Board. As their name imply, these connectors aim to form a continuous loop which would hopefully connect all the major parks within Singapore. The Sembawang Park Connector runs parallel to Sungei Sembawang, a canal which serves as the demarcation between Woodlands and Sembawang New Towns.Simpang Kiri Park Connector
The Simpang Kiri Park Connector demarcates the Southern border of Sembawang New Town, starting from the Southernmost tip of Canberra Link and terminating at Jalan Mempurong, where the Bottle Tree Village and Masjid Penempatan Melayu Sembawang can be found.It follows the river Sungei Simpang Kiri which is 5-kilometres long.Sembawang Hot Spring
The Sembawang Hot SpringSembawang Hot Spring
The Sembawang Hot Spring , located at Gambas Avenue between Woodlands Avenue 12 and Sembawang Road, is the only natural hot spring on the main island of Singapore. It lies in a wooded area about off the main road. The spring is believed by locals to have healing properties, and its water has been...
, discovered in 1909, is located near the junction of Sembawang Road and Gambas Avenue, on Jalan Ulu Sembawang. It is Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
mainland's only natural hot spring and was once bottled for sale under the label Seletaris by Fraser and Neave
Fraser and Neave
Fraser & Neave Limited is a food and beverage, brewing, property and publishing & printing industries conglomerate in Singapore.Listed in Singapore, the group’s subsidiaries and associated companies include Frasers Centrepoint, Asia Pacific Breweries and Times Publishing...
, a food and beverage company. Located on land used by the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence is a ministry of the Government of Singapore entrusted with overseeing the national defence needs of the Republic of Singapore. It is the headquarters of the Singapore Armed Forces...
, improvement works were carried out in the area surrounding the spring and it was re-opened to the public on 1 May 2002.
External links
- Sembawang Town Council official website
- USN Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific official website
- Infopedia, Sembawang Hot Spring (National Library Board)
- Infopedia, Sembawang Road (National Library Board)