64 Club Street

Next Stop 64 Club Street!

In the early days, there are minorities such as the Boyanese other than the four major races in Singapore. The Boyanese mainly are the descendants of immigrants from Pulau Bawean an island north of Java and south of Kalimantan. They left their homes in search of work opportunities and to escape from paying taxes placed by the Dutch in 1900. Hence, they can be seen as an employee in the construction of the Serangoon Road Race Course at Farrer Park and subsequently many stayed on as horse trainers and drivers. 

Thus, the building at 64 Club Street was once known as the Pondok Peranakan Gelam Club, established on 4th April 1932, which served as a communal lodging house for the newly arrived Boyanese where married couples usually occupied bedrooms on the upper floors while children and unmarried adults occupied the lower floor.  Furthermore, it  also served as the role of a social institution where the Boyanese could go there for job recommendations or any community activities happening at that time. Between the 1930s and 1960s, during the pre-war period, it also helped to accommodate 200 Boyanese immigrants, equivalent to 40 families.

Looking up to the 2nd storey!

Today, the Pondok Perankan Gelam Club had moved to Telok Ayer Hong Lim Green Community Centre at 20 Upper Pickering Street since 2000. The current club still continues to the community servics and organise recreational activities such as arts and culture, sports and wellness programmes for senior citizens and committees for women and youths.  And the building at 64 Club Street is currently undergoing renovation for Food and Beverage outlet.