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Weekly UpdatesTHIS colourful building at the corner of Hill Street and River Valley Road is a favourite for tourists with cameras who want to capture a slice of old Singapore. First opened as the Hill Street police station and barracks in 1934, the building is designed in a classical renaissance style. At that time, it was considered the tallest government building at six storeys. It remained as a police station during the Japanese Occupation. After the War, it was used as a police post till 1980.
In 1983, it was renamed as the Hill Street Building. Various government offices were housed there till 1997. They included the National Archives of Singapore, Official Assignee and Public Trustees, and Board of Film Censors. It was declared as a national monument in 1998 and renovations were carried out.
The 911 windows were painted in multiple colours. Reopened in 2000, it became home to the Ministry of Information and the Arts (now called the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts), Media Development Authority, National Arts Council, National Heritage Board, and Singapore Kindness Movement. Art galleries have rented space on the ground floor.
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Superstitious Chinese have called the site the head of the fish as it points to the Singapore River. They believe that the building and its environs must not be disturbed as it may bring bad fengshui. Their belief was strengthened when extensions were made to the building and part of Fort Canning Hill was carved out. This led to the last recession.--TCT
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