Ann Siang Hill

Next Stop Ann Siang Hill

The area near Ann Siang Hill, with the tallest geographic point in Chinatown still remain both the old and restored shophouses which was built between 1903 and 1941. Most of the shophouses are replaced with fashion boutiques, antique furniture shops, art galleries, trendy bars and cafes. The finely decorated shophouses laid in an orderly manner still gives us its antique feel during the pioneer days where the rich Chinese and Straits Chinese businessmen together with the Chinese clan will gather around for commercial and communal activities such as performance like Chinese operas and dragon dances. Is was also a place where entertainment clubs and trade guilds were located. 

Ann Siang Hill was originally called Scott's Hill which was owned by Charles Scott who cultivated a nutmeg and clove estate estate on it, which still remains until today. However, he sold it to John Gemmill, a merchant and former auctioneer who later named it as Gemmill's Hill. This is why the street relatively curves its way gently up a hill, its staggered unction with Club St creating a delightful urban space which was more of a form of reminiscent of the Mediterranean rather than Asia.

Gemmill's Hill was then called Ann Siang Hill, when it is sold to Chia Ann Siang,who was a rich Hokkien merchant that owned and built his house and estate on this site. It remains Ann Siang Hill up till today. At the age of 16, he was an employee with a British firm, Boustead & Comapny, whose focal business was in relation with the trade of natural resources - spices, coconut, tabacco, tin, tea and silk along the China-Europe trade routes. After eight years on the job, Chia Ann Siang was raised to chief produce storekeeper. 

Despite that, he eventually left the company and progress into the timber business, He then become a partner of Geok Treat and Company in 1863. After he became one of the most successful merchants of his time, where he acquired both Ann Siang Hill and Mount Erskine. 

At the foot of Ann Siang Hill was once a Cantonese burial ground, one of Singapore oldest Chinese burial grounds until the year 1867. This graveyard was disinter in 1907.