Kampong Bugis


Kampong Bugis is a subzone within the planning area of Kallang, Singapore, as defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. This subzone is bounded by Kallang Road and Sims Avenue in the north; the Kallang–Paya Lebar Expressway and Sims Way in the east; Nicoll Highway in the south; and Crawford Street in the west.
Kampong Bugis is probably best known for being the location of the former Kallang Gasworks, the conserved Kallang Airport complex, as well as the former Gay World Amusement Park. A plot of land bounded by Kallang Road, the Kallang River and Rochor River is slated for future residential development, part of a pilot programme to create a car-lite riverside community. Other notable places in Kampong Bugis include Kallang Riverside Park, Merdeka Bridge and Lorong 1 Geylang Bus Terminal.

Etymology

This subzone took its name from a similarly-named road located within its boundary. The road itself derived its name from an expunged Buginese settlement that once sat on the mouth of the Kallang River.

History

The Buginese people came from Sulawesi, in modern-day Indonesia, and exercised control over islands in the Riau Archipelago. In 1819, a Buginese leader had a conflict with the Dutch colonist and was subsequently executed. The Buginese people rebelled against the Dutch in the wake of the execution, but was met fiercely with Dutch military action. The group fled to Singapore, first settling temporarily near present-day Raffles Hotel, later moving to where Bugis Street is, before finally building a large settlement by the Kallang River in today's Kampong Bugis. In the early 1950s, a major fire destroyed the Buginese village.
Today, Bugis Street is a tourist attraction in Singapore, served by the nearby Bugis MRT station. A road named "Kampong Bugis" is located off Kallang Road in Kallang; the Kallang subzone of Kampong Bugis took its name after this road. Bugis street is actually in North Bridge Road, it is different from Kampong Bugis. Kampong Bugis was a street along Kallang Road. There are neighbouring streets beside nam lock street, sin koh street. Some of the things well known was it was also known as Fire city 火城 due to the presence of large gas tanks belonging to PUB. This is also the place where PICO art started in a little warehouse. At the end of the street is the Kallang River which flows out to the South China Sea, where there was an old saw mill with logs imported from overseas. From here, one could see the other side of the river which is Golden miles.