Any good "old photo" shops in Singapore?

Submitted by David on Mon, 11/05/2012 - 14:19

We're getting ready for short family holiday in Singapore.

Does anyone know of any good places there that sell old photos? Either shops, or flea-markets like Hong Kong's Cat Street? If there's a chance, I'll call in to see if they have any of Hong Kong.

Thanks & regards, David

David

There are quite a few gallery/ antique/ old photo shops around the Chinatown area - suggest Smith Street, Temple Street, Cross Street area.

There are also some fine books you can buy of historic views of Singapore.

Unlike HK, most of the 'historic' views in Singapore are still intact, with the exception of the original CBD, Raffles Square area which is largely unrecognizable against its former glory days.

I did not find much relating to HK in my time there, but no doubt you will leave no stone unturned...

The National Singapore museum at the foot of Fort Canning is worth a look too, and has many historical books/ photos in the gift shop. You will enjoy a walk around Fort Canning too while you are there...the old European graveyard is located at the foot of Fort Canning.

There are a couple of curio shops along Telok Ayer street and Craig Road (Tanjong Pagar/ Duxton area)

There is a nice walk along Mount Faber Scenic Park/ Ridge you can take from the Jewel Box rest./ Cable Car landing. A lot of the fighting in WWII happened near there, and they have a turned an old colonnial era building into a sort of local war museum.

Then there is the war memorial at Kranji, and Changi prison etc.

Anyway have a great trip and dress for the heat and the rain in equal measure....

Best rgds

J

Thanks J for the detailed info.  Fort Canning is where the Battle Box is, while our Battle Box complex is buried under Pacific Place except perhaps for the mysterious room on Kennedy Road.

Also, Haw Par Villa (Singapore's version of Hong Kong's lost Tiger Balm Garden) might be worth visiting.  I get ridiculed by my Singaporean friends when I mentioned I went there, as very few people go there nowadays.

Yes I have done Haw Par Villa too David!

It is rather bizarre and certainly a little dated by todays Theme Park standards, but the 12 levels of Hell grotto is classic.

There are little modelled scenes of the fate that awaits us in the afterlife for the sins we commit here on earth.

I am still intrigued as to why 'cheating in an exam' for instance, merits being cut in two down the middle with a band saw, while actually murdering someone merely results in you being stabbed repeatedly for eternity?

The punishment seems disproportionate to the crime somehow...

PS The Club Street area/ Ann Siang Hill is very nice for civilised bars and european style restaurants if you are passing...some fantastic old buildings and the early Chinese associations are located there.

I used to live around there - and its totally haunted, but thats another story!

Some of the tortured souls as depicted in Har Paw Villa no doubt.

C & Julian, I followed your suggestions and had a wander around Chinatown. The closest to what I was looking for were some of the stalls around the Chinatown Complex. Only one had photos though, and they were just a handful of Singapore photos.

I found a few other shops advertising they sold collectibles, but they were selling old coins & paper money.

So, no luck on that trip, but thanks for the tips.

Regards, David