Katong
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{{SG neighbourhood | imagemap= | englishname=Katong | chinesename=加东 | poj= | pengim= | pinyin=Jiādōng | malayname=Katong | tamilname=fill in }} Katong is a residential area in the east of Singapore. It is well known for its restaurants specialising in Peranakan (Straits Chinese) cuisine, particularly a spicy Malay noodle soup called laksa.
Image:East Coast Road 3, Mar 06.JPG
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Etymology
Katong is the name of a species of sea turtle now extinct. It also means the rippling effect of a sea mirage when looking at a shore line.
History
Katong's history is rooted in the early nineteenth century with the development of cotton and coconut plantations. The earliest cultivation took place in 1823, when Francis Bernard, brother-in-law of Lieutenant Colonel William Farquhar, the first Resident of Singapore, started a coconut estate in the district.
Following in his wake, plots of land in the area stretching from Siglap Road to the Geylang River and from Geylang Road to the sea were granted to individuals in large parcels, ranging from 8 to 200 hectares. Pioneer estate owners included Thomas Dunman, Thomas Crane, Sir Jose d'Almeida, John Armstrong, Whampoa Hoo Ah Kay and the Little family.
Most of the land was given over to coconut plantations because of the suitably sandy conditions, although cotton was also introduced in February 1836. Unnfortunately, cotton planting was largely a failure and only coconut plantations remained.
In the first four decades of the twentieth century and especially after World War I, Katong developed from an essentially weekend retreat into an area for permanent residence, taking the form of a wealthy suburb. Large bungalows were built along Mountbatten Road and East Coast Road, while many modest houses were built on small plots of land around Joo Chiat Road and Tanjong Katong Road and even further east.
The Katong of today covers both sides of Tanjong Katong Road and the seaward strip along Mountbatten Road and East Coast Road from Katong Park up to Martia Road. Also included in this strip are the Katong Church and Katong Convent.
The Katong area, between Telok Kurau Road, Joo Chiat Police Station and Tembeling Road, was an ethnic enclave of the Eurasians. Many "town" Eurasians moved here in the 1920s and 1930s due to several reasons. They were attracted by the building of St Patrick's (1933) and Holy Family Church. They wanted better homes after the Depression, and there was cheap housing here compared to the Bukit Timah and Upper Serangoon areas.
Highlights
The area is traditionally associated with the Eurasian and Peranakan community. However, many high-rise apartment blocks now stand alongside the traditional shophouses and Peranakan terraced houses. In 1993, the Joo Chiat neighbourhood which comprises of the historical centre of Katong was designated a conservation area. Many of the traditional houses in the area have been renovated and converted into luxury homes for very well-off Singaporeans.
Education
Katong, other than Bukit Timah, also has well-known schools such as Dunman High School, Tanjong Katong Secondary School, Tanjong Katong Girls' School and Chung Cheng High School (Main).
Reference
- Victor R Savage, Brenda S A Yeoh (2003), Toponymics - A Study of Singapore Street Names, Eastern Universities Press, ISBN 9812102051
External links
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