Kampung Rochor was the area demarcated as “Bugis Campong” in the Jackson Plan of 1822.
The area beyond Kampong Glam Conservation District today, north of Jalan Sultan up to Crawford Street, is a virtually forgotten area when most people think of historic districts in Singapore. In fact this area played a very important role in the Malayo-Muslim urban community in Singapore.
The whole area, including roads named Java Road, Palembang Road, Minto Road, and Sumbawa Road, as well as nearby Jalan Kuantan and Jalan Pekan, were demolished in 1968 to the 1970s.
Today only Hajjah Fatimah Mosque remains in this large district.
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque in its original street context along Java Road, probably pre-war (c.1940). Source: Marjorie Doggett, Characters of Light, .1984
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque in 1975: Java Road buildings undergoing demolition. Source: Ray Tyers, Singapore Then and Now, 1993
Hajjah Fatimah Mosque as seen in 2004, without Java Road. Photo by Imran bin Tajudeen.
Below is an aerial view of the Kampung Rochor area taken in 1955, in relation to the landmarks along Jalan Sultan (top of photograph) that are still in existence (items 8, 9 , and 10). Hajjah Fatimah Mosque and Java Road can be seen (A).
The St John’s Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) HQ and Golden Mile Complex along Beach Road are indicated on the left edge, while Rochor River and Crawford Street are at the bottom of the photograph:
Kampung Rochor district (shaded in light red) showing Hajjah Fatimah Mosque in its original setting along Java Road, as well as neighbouring streets: Palembang Road, Minto Road, Sumbawa Road. Source: Jane Perkins, Kampong Glam: Spirit of a Community, 1984.
The image below shows a close-up of one half of the Kampung Rochor area in relation to Kampong Glam Conservation District with Sultan Mosque, Istana Kg Gelam (Malay Heritage Centre) and other buildings.
Part of Kampung Rochor District in relation to Kg Glam Conservation District. Jalan Sultan lies between the two districts. Source: Jane Perkins, Kampong Glam: Spirit of a Community, 1984.
The following posts will be posted gradually over the next few months – if you are a former resident of these roads / streets, we would love to hear from you!
JAVA ROAD – Three key buildings along Java Road are as follows:
(A) Hajjah Fatimah Mosque and its distinctive, steeple-like minaret was a landmark that was cvisible above the shophouse roofs far out in the Kallang Bay / Singapore Harbour for the Bugis, Madurese, and Teochew/Hokkien ships that came to Beach Road.
(B) Kota Nong Chik or Kota Alsagoff was an enclosed compound containing two bungalows, one of which is a unique building.
(C) Rumah Besar (Large/Main Residence) of Ambo’ Sooloh, built by his father the Bugis merchant Haji Omar, a cluster of altogether 8 shophouse units built along Java Road and Sumbawa Road
MINTO ROAD
(D) Surau at Minto Road – There was once a two-storey building that served as a surau built off Minto Road – do you know the story behind this building?
PALEMBANG ROAD & SUMBAWA ROAD
We are seeking more information on Palembang Road and Sumbawa Road!
JALAN KUANTAN & JALAN PEKAN
These two roads are found off North Bridge Road
We are seeking more information on Jalan Kuantan and Jalan Pekan!
A lot remains to be done to recover the histories of this important bur virtually forgotten historic area of Singapore.
If you are a former resident of Java Road, Palembang Road, Minto Road, Sumbawa Road, Jalan Sultan, Jalan Kuantan, or Jalan Pekan, do leave us a note here!
An aerial photograph from 1964
Roads in this district (all demolished from 1965-1980s):
Java Road, Palembang Road, Minto Road, Sumbawa Road, Jalan Pekan, Jalan Kuantan.
In the early 19th century (under Resident John Crawford), the street names above were entirely in Malay (Jalan Bugis, Jalan Pasar, etc)
This is the area around Hajjah Fatimah Mosque and Lavender MRT station today.
Most people would know it as Textile Centre / Crawford Estate today, where you find the “Army Market” and Sup Tulang food centre (these latter two social landmarks are located roughly in the centre of this image).
Kawasan yang dahulu dikenali sebagai Kampung Rochor. Pernah dihuni ramai keluarga dan pedagang Bugis, Jawa, Bawean, Melayu Palembang, Banjar, dan suku-suku Melayu lainnya.
Di sinilah letaknya Kota Raja Malay School, Rumah Besar Haji Omar (ayah Ambo’ Sooloh), Kota Nong Chik (Kota Alsagoff)….
Ust Haji Zhulkeflee, Andi’ Omar, Haji Sadiq, dan ramai individu lain yang pernah tinggal di sini masih ingat kisah2 menarik dan siapa yang tinggal dan berniaga di sini.
Semoga lambat -laun cerita sepenuhnya akan dapat kita ungkapkan.
Sama-samalah kita usahakan.
Leave a Reply