This neoclassical-style building was built by Aw Boon Haw in 1924. As we walked around the exterior of the building trying hard to find out what the building was formerly used for, we did not find any historical plaque to find out more about the building. Nazirul insisted that it probably had something to do with crocodiles when we saw the signage near the electrical riser of Singapore Powers that labelled “S’pore Crocodile Garments”.
Thus, we were surprised to find out that this building was the former Eng Aun Tong factory which manufactured the internationally renowned Chinese herbal ointment, Tiger Balm. The starting of the factory coincided with the Aw family's move to Singapore from Rangoon in the 1920s. The factory operated until 1971 when production operations were contracted out and production of the famous ointment was moved to the Jack Chia group's factories in Jurong. This building along Neil Road received conservation status on 18 September 1992 under the voluntary conservation scheme.
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