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(Created page with "{{Redirect|Bukit Brown|the Mass Rapid Transit station of the same name|Bukit Brown MRT station}}{{Short description|Cemetery in Novena, Singapore}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Use British English|date=October 2024}} '''Bukit Brown Cemetery''', also known as the '''Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery''' or the '''Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery''', is located in Novena in the Central Region of Singapore....")
 
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{{Redirect|Bukit Brown|the Mass Rapid Transit station of the same name|Bukit Brown MRT station}}{{Short description|Cemetery in Novena, Singapore}}
{{Infobox-place
{{good article}}
| name       = Bukit Brown Cemetery
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
| native_name = Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery
{{Use British English|date=October 2024}}
| type        = Chinese municipal cemetery
 
| location    = Novena
'''Bukit Brown Cemetery''', also known as the '''Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery''' or the '''Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery''', is located in [[Novena, Singapore|Novena]] in the [[Central Region, Singapore|Central Region]] of Singapore. The site of the cemetery was originally owned by George Henry Brown, a British merchant. It became known as Brown's Hill, which was translated into [[Malay language|Malay]] as Bukit Brown. The site was eventually given to the Seh Ong [[Kongsi]], who opened a private clan cemetery there in the 1870s.
| region      = Central
 
| established = 1 January 1922
Beginning in the 1880s, cemeteries in Singapore grew rapidly. In 1887, the [[Legislative Council of Singapore|Legislative Council]] passed a [[Bill (law)|bill]] that limited their creation, particularly limiting Chinese cemeteries. The Chinese community called for the creation of a [[Municipality|municipal]] cemetery, having few options for burying their dead, with notable supporters of the concept including [[Tan Kheam Hock]] and [[Lim Boon Keng]]. The [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] began looking for suitable sites and settled on the Seh Ong Kongsi's land, acquiring the site in 1919 through [[compulsory acquisition]].
| closed      = 1973
}}


Three years later, the Commission opened Bukit Brown Cemetery. Although initially unpopular with the Chinese community, after some modifications, use increased. By 1929, forty percent of Chinese buried in Singapore were interred at Bukit Brown Cemetery. The cemetery ran out of unreserved plots in 1944, and when the last burials were held, the cemetery was closed in 1973, containing about 100,000 graves. In 2011, the government designated the area for [[Urban planning in Singapore|residential development]], leading to protests from activists who believed the cemetery should be preserved. The following year, around 3,700 graves were exhumed to build an eight-lane highway. The cemetery was since designated as "at risk" on the [[2014 World Monuments Watch]], and there have been proposals to designate it a [[National monuments of Singapore|national monument]].
'''Bukit Brown Cemetery''', also known as the '''Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery''' or the '''Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery''', is located in [[Novena, Singapore|Novena]] in the [[Central Region, Singapore|Central Region]] of Singapore. The site was originally owned by George Henry Brown, a British merchant, becoming known as Brown's Hill, translated into [[Malay language|Malay]] as Bukit Brown. The site was eventually given to the Seh Ong [[Kongsi]], who opened a private clan cemetery there in the 1870s.


Bukit Brown Cemetery is believed to be the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China, and is the burial location of many of Singapore's earliest pioneers. Preservation advocates support maintaining Bukit Brown and other nearby cemeteries for their vegetation, wildlife, and heritage. Traditional Chinese festivals are regularly held at these cemeteries.
Beginning in the 1880s, cemeteries in Singapore grew rapidly. In 1887, the [[Legislative Council of Singapore|Legislative Council]] passed a [[Bill (law)|bill]] that limited their creation, particularly Chinese cemeteries. The Chinese community called for a [[Municipality|municipal]] cemetery, with notable supporters including [[Tan Kheam Hock]] and [[Lim Boon Keng]]. The [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] settled on the Seh Ong Kongsi's land, acquiring the site in 1919 through [[compulsory acquisition]].


==== Etymology ====
Three years later, the Commission opened Bukit Brown Cemetery. By 1929, forty percent of Chinese buried in Singapore were interred there. The cemetery ran out of unreserved plots in 1944 and was closed in 1973, containing about 100,000 graves. In 2011, the government designated the area for [[Urban planning in Singapore|residential development]], leading to protests from activists who believed the cemetery should be preserved. The following year, around 3,700 graves were exhumed to build an eight-lane highway. The cemetery was designated as "at risk" on the [[2014 World Monuments Watch]].
The cemetery and the surrounding area are referred to as Bukit Brown (''bukit'' meaning ''hill'' in [[Malay language|Malay]]), after George Henry Brown, the original owner of the land where the cemetery is situated.{{Harvnb|Savage|Yeoh|2022|p=70|ref=}} The cemetery is also known as the Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery or the Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|p=290}} The name was the first official designation in Singapore to be a hybrid of multiple languages, including both English and Malay.{{Cite web |last=Pierson |first=David |date=3 March 2020 |title=Singapore's original crazy rich bedazzled their tombs with tiles: A race to save them as exhumation looms |url=https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-03-06/la-fg-singapore-bukit-brown |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}} Brown named the hill where the cemetery is located Mount Pleasant; it is also locally referred to as Coffee Hill or Kopi Sua.{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Kwan Kwan |date=25 September 1984 |title=The dead and the living side by side |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=12 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}


==== History ====
Bukit Brown Cemetery is believed to be the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China, and is the burial location of many of Singapore's earliest pioneers.


===== 1800s: Early establishments =====
== Etymology ==
George Henry Brown (1826–1882) was a nineteenth century British merchant and ship owner who arrived in [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]] (then part of the [[Straits Settlements]]) in the 1840s and lived there until his death after an accident in [[Penang]] on 5 October 1882. He owned three ships and made horse carriages.


Brown's business G. H. Brown & Co was located at [[Raffles Place]]. Brown married Ellen Brown (1827–1903) in 1854 and they had multiple children. Brown was known for his interest in music; he played the organ at [[St Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore|St. Andrew's Cathedral]]. Brown also owned multiple plots of land in the colony; these included a plot that had hilly terrain, which he called Mount Pleasant. Brown built a house he called Fern Cottage at Mount Pleasant. His attempts to grow nutmeg and coffee on the site were unsuccessful. The land was referred to as Brown's Hill, locally translated into Malay as Bukit Brown. It was listed as Bukit Brown by British map makers.
The cemetery and the surrounding area are referred to as Bukit Brown (''bukit'' meaning ''hill'' in [[Malay language|Malay]]), after George Henry Brown, the original owner of the land. The name was the first official designation in Singapore to be a hybrid of multiple languages, including both English and Malay. Brown named the hill Mount Pleasant; it is also locally referred to as Coffee Hill or Kopi Sua.


Brown later sold the land to Indian [[Chettiar]] Mootapa Chitty and Chinese businessman Lim Chu Yi, who in turn sold the land to Ong Hew Ko, [[Ong Ewe Hai]], and Ong Chong Chew. The trio gave the land to the Seh Ong [[Kongsi]]{{efn|"Kongsi" is a [[Hokkien]] transcription meaning a firm, partnership, or society, and was widely used in the names of Chinese institutions in the 19th-century.{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Tai Peng |date=1979 |title=The Word "Kongsi": A Note |journal=[[Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society]] |volume=52 |issue=1 |pages=102 |jstor=41492844}}}} in 1872 who, sometime in the 1870s, turned the land into a private cemetery for their members, leading to it being known as the Seh Ong Cemetery;{{Harvnb|Tsang|2007|pp=18–19}}{{Harvnb|Siew|2013|p=28}} it was initially planned to be used as a village for Chinese immigrants. The [[Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan|Hokkien Huay Kuan]] also buried their clan members there.
== History ==
 
===== 1900–2000: Bukit Brown Cemetery =====
 
====== Background ======
In early colonial Singapore, various [[Demographics of Singapore|ethnic communities]] built cemeteries according to their practices; for example, the [[Malay Singaporeans|Malays]] buried their dead in sand ridges while the [[Chinese Singaporeans|Chinese]] preferred hillsides. Prior to 1857, cemeteries in Singapore were considered "communal responsibilities" and the British government exerted little control over burial locations from the multiple ethnic communities. However, by the 1880s, expansion efforts of the city centre were restricted by the scarcity of suitable land; surrounding land around the city was deemed unusable as it was either [[Swamp|swampland]] or taken up by cemeteries.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|pp=284–286}}
 
Due to the Chinese belief in [[Feng shui|burying their dead on hillsides]], many suitable pieces of land for residences were taken up by Chinese cemeteries. This belief led to concerns about sanitation, as the dead occupied the highest and more desirable sites, while the living resided on lower, more swampy land. Chinese cemeteries were increasingly seen by the authorities as both insanitary and restricting future development, leading to growing contention between the British authorities and Chinese communities in Singapore.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|pp=286–287}}
 
In 1887, a [[Bill (law)|bill]], which authorised the regulation, licensing, and inspection of cemeteries, was created in an attempt to control the development of cemeteries, particularly targeting Chinese cemeteries. When it was first introduced at a [[Legislative Council of Singapore|Legislative Council]] meeting, it was considered controversial by the Chinese community as it attacked their spaces and ignored their funerary practices. [[Seah Liang Seah]], a Chinese member of the Legislative Council, requested a postponement of the bill as it "seriously affected the interests of the Chinese community, mostly those of the respectable class."{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|p=291}} Following multiple petitions by the Chinese community, the bill was postponed and subsequently left in [[abeyance]] until 1896, when the issue of burials was reintroduced.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|pp=294–297}}
 
The reintroduced bill was updated, giving the control of burial grounds to the [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] rather than the Legislative Council. The Commission could license, inspect burial grounds, close burial grounds if they were deemed unsafe, and impose penalties for improper corpse disposal. The control being given to the Commission was also important to the Chinese, as their views were considered more represented on that body than on the Council, which governed at a larger colonial level. Another difference between the 1896 bill and the 1887 bill was that private burial grounds would be allowed if licensed, instead of being fully prohibited. These restrictions led to private Chinese cemeteries becoming more prevalent, with a lack of public cemeteries for poor Chinese labourers, who resorted to illegally dumping their dead along [[Five-foot way|five-foot ways]] and public places in the hope that the authorities who discover the bodies would bury them.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|pp=301–303}}
 
====== Municipal acquisition and creation of Bukit Brown ======
Talks on the creation of a [[Municipality|municipal]] Chinese cemetery had been ongoing since the 1880s, following complaints of restrictions placed on existing Chinese cemeteries. In the early twentieth century, following closures of cemeteries with max occupancies, old cemeteries being redeveloped, and fewer private cemeteries being made, the creation of a municipal cemetery became more important.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=170}} Due to the urgency of the situation, some Chinese did not mind being buried in a municipal cemetery if it meant ignoring [[Funerary art#China|traditional burial methods]] involving [[geomancy]].{{Harvnb|Song|1923|p=407}}
 
The first official mention of a municipal Chinese cemetery was as early as 1904, when a group of Chinese residents, including Peranakan social activist [[Lim Boon Keng]], suggested that the Municipal Commissioners "set aside a burial ground for their use to be managed on the lines of the Christian Cemetery". In 1906, Lim again suggested the inception of a proper burial site for the Chinese community, which the [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] unanimously agreed to.{{Cite news |date=15 December 1906 |title=The Municipality |work=[[Straits Echo]] |pages=5 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Straits-born businessman [[Ching Keng Lee]] also agreed on the importance of a municipal cemetery for the Chinese, as it would help Chinese people of lower or middle income to afford burials. Singaporean politician [[Tan Kheam Hock]] also supported the establishment of a public Chinese cemetery. In [[Song Ong Siang]]'s [[One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore|''One Hundred Years' History of the Chinese in Singapore'']] (1923), Tan was described as their "rememberer". After Bukit Brown Cemetery was opened, Tan would manage the cemetery until his death.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=176}}
 
Given the breadth of support for a municipal cemetery, the Municipal Commission began sourcing suitable locations. The Hokkien cemetery at [[Keppel Harbour]] and the cemetery at [[Holland Road, Singapore|Holland Road]] were initially considered for use, but were eventually rejected. Another option was at [[Bidadari, Singapore|Bidadari]], where the existing [[Bidadari Cemetery]] was already located, but the Commission rejected it as "the burial customs of the Chinese were incompatible with the general ambience of a site already consecrated to the Christian dead." The municipal president further stated that "there might be clashing and inconvenience" if burials from different traditions happened to take place at the same time. In a meeting on 26 October 1917, the Municipal Commission announced their selection of the Seh Ong Cemetery, particularly due to its size and cost. Tan would later bring up whether progress had been made in acquiring land at Bukit Brown to re-purpose it as a Chinese burial ground in a Municipal meeting in December.{{Cite news |date=29 December 1917 |title=Municipal Commission |work=[[Malaya Tribune]] |pages=5 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Following this decision, the Seh Ong Kongsi stated:
 
After multiple negotiations with the Seh Ong Kongsi, where they refused to give up the land every time, the Municipal Commissioners decided that "the only other course left [for the Commission was] to approach the government to appropriate the land in spite of the unwillingness of the owners". In 1919, the Municipal Commission acquired a portion of the Seh Ong Kongsi's land through [[compulsory acquisition]]; they additionally acquired other nearby parcels of land.{{Harvnb|Savage|Yeoh|2022|p=71}} Two years were then spent on creating the layout for the cemetery, building footpaths and facilities, hiring staff, and establishing by-laws for the cemetery.{{Cite news |date=30 August 1921 |title=Chinese Burial Ground |work=[[Malaya Tribune]] |pages=7 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} The by-laws were created by a subcommittee of the Municipal Commission, which included Municipal Commissioners Tan and [[See Tiong Wah]], a municipal health officer, an engineer, and a legal adviser.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|p=307}}
 
====== Opening of Bukit Brown and subsequent use ======
The cemetery was officially opened as Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery on 1 January 1922. In 1923, the road leading to Bukit Brown Cemetery was named Bukit Brown Road, and another road leading up to the cemetery was named Kheam Hock Road after Tan.{{Harvnb|Savage|Yeoh|2022|p=282}}{{Cite news |date=6 June 1923 |title=Action Taken at Commission Meeting. |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=10 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} A cemetery temple was built, and a priest who sold [[joss sticks]] and candles was hired.{{Cite news |date=14 April 1923 |title=Municipal Matters |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=9 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} The temple was modelled on the [[Thian Hock Keng Temple]] in [[Telok Ayer Street|Telok Ayer]].{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|p=309}} When it opened, Bukit Brown Cemetery was not initially popular with the Chinese; its first burial occurred in August 1922. The municipal president stated it was "not utilised to the extent which we had anticipated", with the main reasons being the size and layout of the grave plots, although these were put in place to maximise space.{{Harvnb|Siew|2013|pp=29–30}}{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|pp=307, 309}} Bukit Brown Cemetery was separated into two sections – "general" and "pauper" – to make it more inclusive. The general section's plots were about {{convert|14|x|8|feet}} and cost $50 [[Straits dollar|Strait]] whilst the pauper section's plots were {{convert|8|x|4|feet}}. The pauper section was also located in a low-lying area that was regularly flooded, but there was no monetary cost for plots.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=175}}Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 72–73
 
In addition to the small grave plots, they were laid out in rows in groups of ten. This fixed positioning of the plots was unpopular with the Chinese as they preferred having individualised plots that followed [[Feng shui|traditional geomancy practices]]; the municipal authorities preferred the fixed positions. Due to the limited plot sizes, families tended to use two burial plots for one burial. Another complaint was the Commission's inconsistency in enforcing the layout rules; some graves took up two or more plots despite the fact that the by-laws required one grave per plot. These larger plots were owned by wealthier individuals, leading to further complaints about social classes. The Municipal Commission eventually consulted with the [[Chinese Advisory Board]], who amended the by-laws to better suit Chinese preferences. They changed the sizes of the burial plots, expanding the sizes of plots to {{convert|20|x|10|feet}} in the general section and {{convert|10|x|5|feet}} in the pauper section. Plot layouts were also changed to face either south or east and spaces for paths were left after every sixth row of graves.{{Harvnb|Siew|2013|p=31}}{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|p=309}}
 
These changes resulted in Bukit Brown Cemetery becoming more popular among the Chinese community.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|pp=170–171}} More rest houses and wells were built, and gardeners were hired to maintain the grounds.{{Cite news |date=27 September 1922 |title=Bukit Brown Cemetery. |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=8 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} In the mid 1920s, the [[Singapore Improvement Trust]] began clearing graves in the [[Tiong Bahru]] area, with new plots offered at Bukit Brown for those affected that only cost the amount for removing the graves.{{Harvnb|Yeoh|2003|p=306}} By 1929, 40% of the dead among the Chinese community in Singapore were buried at Bukit Brown Cemetery. In 1941, [[Choa Chu Kang Cemetery]] was established as Bukit Brown Cemetery and [[Bidadari Cemetery]] were both running out of space.{{Cite news |date=25 February 1941 |title=Singapore's New Burial Ground |work=[[Malaya Tribune]] |pages=2 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
 
During the [[Japanese occupation of Singapore|Japanese occupation]], mass communal trenches were dug to bury thousands of unidentified victims of Japanese bombings. Research in 2014 by activists suggests that Bukit Brown was a key battleground between the Japanese and British troops due to its high terrain. According to archaeologist and military historian Jon Cooper, the only tank engagement took place at Kheam Hock Road. Some of the deaths of the [[Sook Ching|Sook Ching massacre]] also likely took place in Bukit Brown's forested areas.{{Harvnb|Huang|2014|p=29}} By 1944, Bukit Brown Cemetery had reached its allotted number of burials and no further burials were allowed except for those who had reserved plots.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=171}} In 1946, more grave plots were released for people whose reservations had been taken up during the Japanese occupation and used for pauper burials.{{Cite news |date=9 September 1946 |title=New Grave Plots At Bukit Brown |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=5 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |date=4 September 1946 |title=Graves Decision |work=[[The Singapore Free Press]] |pages=5 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
 
The following year, Bukit Brown Cemetery and Choa Chu Kang Cemetery were discussed in a municipal meeting by L. Rayman, who was concerned about the land use by the cemeteries. An amendment that limited the size of burial plots was later passed.{{Cite news |date=29 March 1947 |title=S'pore Short of Burial Plots |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=7 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} In 1951, {{SGD|63180|link=on}} was spent by the Municipal Commission to maintain Bukit Brown Cemetery alongside two other cemeteries. {{SGD|17040}} was spent for maintenance whilst the remaining {{SGD|46140}} was for [[Landscape maintenance|grass cutting]].{{Cite news |date=14 December 1950 |title=$46,000 To Cut Grass |work=[[The Straits Budget]] |pages=12 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} In 1965, the [[Public Works Department (Singapore)|Public Works Department]] (PWD) exhumed 237 graves to realign Lornie Road off Adam Road.{{Cite news |date=25 December 1964 |title=237 Graves on State Land at Bukit Brown to be Exhumed |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=4 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |date=17 December 1964 |title=Graves to be Exhumed for Road Alignment |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=5 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Bukit Brown Cemetery was closed for new burials in 1973, with about 100,000 graves. From the 1970s to 1980s, occasional maintenance works by the [[Ministry of the Environment (Singapore)|Ministry of the Environment]] such as grass cutting were held.{{Cite news |date=3 March 1978 |title=Page 37 Advertisements Column 1 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=37 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |date=4 January 1985 |title=Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=3 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} From 1992 to 1993, 600 graves were exhumed from nearby Chinese cemeteries to widen the [[Pan Island Expressway]], which included Bukit Brown Cemetery.{{Cite news |date=28 December 1992 |title=Most of the 600 graves near PIE still unclaimed |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=14 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
 
====== 2000–present: Redevelopment plans for Bukit Brown and conservation efforts ======
In 2011, the area was designated for residential development,{{efn|Bukit Brown had already been designated for residential development since the [[Urban planning in Singapore|1991 Concept Plan]].}} leaving many activists upset, as they felt that the cemetery was "a distinctive slice of the multi-ethnic country's fast disappearing heritage"{{Cite news |last=Lim |first=Rebecca |date=6 April 2012 |title=Singapore to drive road through historic cemetery |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17594008 |work=[[BBC News]]}} and that it should be preserved.{{Cite news |last=Lee |first=Zhiwang |date=28 October 2011 |title=Taoist Mission supports preservation of cemetery |work=[[Today (website)|Today]] |pages=26 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |last=Tan |first=Danny G. |date=2 November 2011 |title=Were Local Groups Even Consulted About Bukit Brown Plan? |work=[[Today (website)|Today]] |pages=22 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |last=Chua |first=Grace |date=6 February 2012 |title=Heritage society 'disappointed' with Govt's Bukit Brown decision |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=7 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Early movements against the redevelopment plans started on [[Facebook]], when a group titled Heritage Singapore – Bukit Brown Cemetery was launched on the platform. After the [[Ministry of National Development (Singapore)|Ministry of National Development]] stated their plans to convert the cemetery into a housing estate by 2030, along with constructing a new road to reduce traffic on the Pan Island Expressway, more groups were formed such as the Rojak Librarian, All Things Bukit Brown, and SOS Bukit Brown.{{Cite news |last=Han |first=Kirsten |date=2015-08-07 |title=Land-starved Singapore exhumes its cemeteries to build roads and malls |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/aug/07/land-starved-singapore-exhumes-its-cemeteries-to-build-roads-and-malls |work=[[The Guardian]]}} In 2012, National Development Minister of State [[Tan Chuan-Jin]] announced that 5,000 graves would be exhumed to make way for a new, eight-lane Lornie Highway that would cut through the cemetery, the aforementioned road to reduce traffic.{{cite web |last=Anns |first=Mary |date=4 February 2012 |title=Road through Bukit Brown to go ahead as planned |work=[[AsiaOne]]}}
 
During a budget debate, Tan acknowledged the importance of heritage conservation in Singapore, but restated that the highway would have to be built to help connect to the northern–northeastern region and reduce traffic congestion on the existing Lornie Road. Tan also stated that the [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]] was in the process of documenting the graves at the cemetery.{{cite web |last=Chan |first=Joanne |date=5 March 2012 |title=Development should not come at expense of heritage: Tan Chuan-Jin |publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}} On 19 March 2012, the number of graves to be exhumed was reduced to 3,746, after several consultations;{{cite web |last=Chan |first=Joanne |date=19 March 2012 |title=LTA announces finalised alignment for Bukit Brown road project |publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}}{{cite web |date=19 March 2012 |title=LTA finalises alignment of new road across Bukit Brown |publisher=[[Urban Redevelopment Authority]]}} those consulted for the process include the [[Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan]], the [[Singapore Heritage Society]] (SHS), academics, and grave experts. This was followed by a closed-door meeting between Tan and selected representatives. However, many left unconvinced, and a critical statement of the government's choices was published later that day in a collaboration between seven activist groups. Tan later responded on Facebook, stating that the meeting was only to announce the details of the highway, and was not a consultative session.{{Harvnb|Huang|2014|p=31}} Furthermore, a documentation project – that was helmed by anthropologist [[Hui Yew-Foong]] – was formed by Tan as a "major government concession"; this later found controversy, however, when journalist Han Yongmei reported that only {{SGD|250000}} was provided as funding for a documentation project of such a size expected to be completed in a year.{{Harvnb|Huang|2014|pp=27–28}}
 
Other criticisms included drawing similarities to [[Wan Qing Yuan|Wanqingyuan]]'s redevelopment into the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall, specifically on the high cost of government funds being used to maintain the building instead of on gravestones at Bukit Brown Cemetery. Tan refuted these claims by stating that Bukit Brown was a large burial ground, while Sun Yat Sen was a memorial hall. Golf courses were also brought up by the SHS's Liew Kai Khiun, as there were "22 golf courses and three temporary golf sites [which] occupied 88 per cent of the 1,600 hectares of land used for sports and recreation in 2000, or 2.2 per cent of total land area". In support of Liew's view, an editorial brought up the 1986 demolition of the [[National Theatre, Singapore|National Theatre]], which only benefited a few people. On the other hand, former politician [[Goh Choon Kang]] disagreed on the comparison of Bukit Brown and golf courses, stating that the dead should make way for the living. Some writers also ironically brought up the use of government spending on artificially maintaining the [[Gardens by the Bay]], while Bukit Brown was a product of the natural environment.{{Harvnb|Huang|2014|pp=28–29}}
 
The [[Land Transport Authority]] was also criticised for keeping their biodiversity impact assessment private, with political scientist Chong Ja Ian insisting that studies carried out by the government with taxpayers' money should be made public. The [[Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy]]'s Paul Barter referenced the issue later and stated that "the cost-and-benefit assumptions were not made public [...] so people are naturally skeptical because they don't see the analysis."{{Harvnb|Huang|2014|pp=31–32}} Bukit Brown activists further contemplated launching a [[judicial review]] against the government, but an analysis by the [[SMU Yong Pung How School of Law|School of Law]]'s Jack Tsen-Ta Lee found this unlikely to actually halt the construction of the highway. Following Lee's analysis, SOS Bukit Brown pushed for a public petition, calling the government's actions "unpragmatic and insufficiently thought-through".{{Harvnb|Huang|2014|p=32}}
 
Construction of the Lornie Highway began in 2011, and was expected to be completed by 2016, but was eventually completed in 2018.{{Cite news |last=Tai |first=Janice |date=2018-10-28 |title=First section of Lornie Highway, formerly Bukit Brown Road, opens to traffic |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} During construction, Bukit Brown Road was replaced with a section of Lornie Highway.{{Cite news |last=Ng |first=Keng Gene |date=8 July 2024 |title=New outdoor display at Bukit Brown Cemetery to open by August |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} Exhumed remains were either reinterred into smaller plots or cremated by the [[National Environment Agency]]. A bridge was built underneath to help animals pass through and the highway was aligned in such a way that it would avoid existing streams in the area.{{Cite news |last=Feng |first=Zengkun |date=23 March 2012 |title=Bridge will help, say some experts |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=6 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} The highway itself was built {{Convert|5 to 10|m}} above [[Depression (geology)|depressed ground]]. Despite this, Ho Hua Chew of the [[Nature Society (Singapore)]] stated that birds and plant-life would remain affected by the highway.
 
The [[National Archives of Singapore]] (NAS) digitised and released the burial registers of Bukit Brown Cemetery between April 1922 and December 1972 online, as well as a map of the cemetery to help descendants check if their ancestor's graves were affected by the development. It was also revealed that, in 2011, the rest of the cemetery would make way for a new public housing town in about 40 years time.{{cite web |last=Hoe |first=Yeen Nie |date=5 December 2011 |title=New alignment for road cutting through Bukit Brown? |publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}} In 2014, a [[bush fire]] broke out at the cemetery that was the about the size of "1½ football fields" which took the [[Singapore Civil Defence Force]] (SCDF) 2 hours to put out.{{Cite news |last1=Ee |first1=David |last2=Yeo |first2=Sam Jo |date=13 March 2014 |title=Bush fires break out in Changi and Bukit Brown |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=2–3 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Bukit Brown Cemetery was listed on the 2014 [[World Monuments Watch]] as an "at risk site".{{Cite news |last=Zaccheus |first=Melody |date=9 October 2013 |title=Bukit Brown Cemetery named on global list as a site at risk |work=The Straits Times}} 
 
In 2015, following the [[Singapore Botanic Gardens]] gaining [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]] status, Bukit Brown Cemetery and other sites were suggested as other potential World Heritage Sites. However, as cemeteries such as Bukit Brown or [[Jalan Kubor Cemetery]] were "neither a building nor a monument", they were unable to obtain [[National monuments of Singapore|national monument]] status, making it unlikely they would receive UNESCO World Heritage Site status.{{Cite web |last=Koh |first=Valerie |date=12 July 2015 |title=Gardens' UNESCO success sparks calls for more sites to be protected |website=[[Today (website)|Today]]}} In 2016, Bukit Brown Cemetery's gates, which were installed in the 1920s, were removed from their original posts, cleaned and repaired, and reinstalled at the mouth of a new access road near its original location.{{Cite web |last=Zaccheus |first=Melody |date=19 January 2016 |title=Bukit Brown's iconic gates to be refurbished, relocated |website=[[The Straits Times]]}} In 2017, the SHS launched a self-guided trail through Bukit Brown Cemetery that took visitors around 25 gravestones.{{Cite news |last=Hio |first=Lester |date=2017-11-18 |title=New Bukit Brown Cemetery self-guided trail takes visitors through 25 tombs |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} In 2021, the [[Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng]] (KWSPST), partnering with the [[National Heritage Board (Singapore)|National Heritage Board]], began cataloguing 1,500 funerary artefacts from graves exhumed in the Lornie Highway construction. They were later displayed at the KWSPST Early Chinese Burial Artefacts Gallery, which opened in 2025.{{Cite news |last=Chin |first=Soo Fang |last2=Quah |first2=Jason |date=3 December 2025 |title=Unearthed: Burial artefacts from Bukit Brown Cemetery find new life |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} In August 2024, Bukit Brown conservation groups opened an outdoor display called Sounds of the Earth, which featured 80 unclaimed artefacts that were collected in 2013 during the construction of Lornie Highway.
 
==== Geography ====
 
Bukit Brown Cemetery is located in [[Novena, Singapore|Novena]] in the [[Central Region, Singapore|Central Region]] of Singapore. Built attractions around the cemetery include the [[Singapore Polo Club]] and the [[Old Police Academy, Singapore|Old Police Academy]].{{efn|The Old Police Academy is currently undergoing redevelopment to be integrated with the new [[Mount Pleasant, Singapore|Mount Pleasant planning area]] while a part of Singapore Polo Club was acquired by the [[Singapore Land Authority]] for redevelopment.}} Bukit Brown Cemetery is bordered by the [[Pan Island Expressway]] to the south and [[Thomson Road, Singapore|Thomson Road]] to the east, and is bisected by Lornie Highway.{{Cite web |date=23 November 2021 |title=Joint Press Release by HDB, URA & SLA - HDB Unveils Plans for a New Public Housing Estate at Site of Former Police Academy in the Mount Pleasant Area |publisher=[[Housing and Development Board]]}} Besides Bukit Brown Cemetery, the area within the roads contains multiple other cemeteries of different sizes. Due to this, the terms "Bukit Brown" or "Greater Bukit Brown" can be used to refer to the collection of cemeteries as a whole.
 
Kampong Kheam Hock or Kheam Hock Village, a [[Kampong|kampong village]], formerly existed along Kheam Hock Road. In 1949, a municipal survey estimated there were 250 huts at the village whilst in 1984, an estimated 200 families lived there.{{Cite news |date=26 April 1949 |title=Kampong Conditions A Menace |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=5 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Kampong Kheam Hock was listed for development in 1984; the village was demolished and its residents were moved to [[Housing and Development Board]] flats in [[Potong Pasir]] and [[Hougang]].{{Cite news |date=4 June 1984 |title=Land with biggest spread of cemeteries to be cleared |work=[[Singapore Monitor]] |pages=4 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
 
In 2017, Singapore Heritage Society released a digital, self-guided trail of Bukit Brown Cemetery called the Bukit Brown Wayfinder. The guide divided a small section of the cemetery into three blocks with signs to direct users to 25 gravestones.{{Cite news |last=Hio |first=Lester |date=19 November 2017 |title=Follow new trail to Bukit Brown landmarks |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} Two non-operational [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] (MRT) stations are located in the Bukit Brown area; [[Mount Pleasant MRT station]], which is planned to be opened together with the Mount Pleasant planning area, and [[Bukit Brown MRT station]], which will open once Bukit Brown Cemetery has been completely redeveloped.{{Cite news |last=Ng |first=Keng Gene |date=23 November 2021 |title=Mount Pleasant, Marina South MRT stations to open in tandem with housing developments |work=[[The Straits Times]]}}{{cite web |date=16 November 2005 |title=Stages 4 & 5 of Circle Line |publisher=[[Land Transport Authority]]}}
 
===== Mount Pleasant Cemetery =====
{{For|other cemeteries with the same name|Mount Pleasant Cemetery (disambiguation){{!}}Mount Pleasant Cemetery}}
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, also known as Kopi Sua Cemetery or Coffee Hill Cemetery, is located nearby Thomson Road, by the Old Police Academy. Formerly a part of Bukit Brown Cemetery, it was separated from Bukit Brown when the government exhumed six hundred graves in 1993 to widen the [[Pan Island Expressway]],{{Cite news |date=15 March 1993 |title=Exhumation to start soon |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=39 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} causing Mount Pleasant Cemetery to be formed. Mount Pleasant Cemetery experiences fewer visitors annually and is less well-maintained. The cemetery has a pathway leading inside and is popular amongst paranormal groups due to reported sightings of the [[Pontianak (folklore)|Pontianak]], a mythical creature from [[Malay folklore]] that is said to be a vengeful female spirit, originating from women who died during childbirth. Sightings of the Pontianak have been disputed to be monkeys living in the surrounding area.{{Cite news |last=Chan |first=Crystal |date=27 November 2004 |title=Hardly a 'pleasant' final resting place |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=14 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
 
The Mount Pleasant Cemetery is bordered by the Mount Pleasant planning area to the east. In November 2021, a portion of Mount Pleasant Cemetery was planned to be redeveloped by the [[Housing and Development Board]], the [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]], and the [[Singapore Land Authority]] to expand the Mount Pleasant planning area. An [[access road]] from the Pan Island Expressway was planned to have been built that would have cut through the cemetery. However, the road was later adjusted to be built elsewhere following an environmental evaluation, leaving Mount Pleasant Cemetery unaffected.{{Cite news |last=Ng |first=Keng Gene |date=23 November 2021 |title=Planned road alignment for Mt Pleasant housing estate changed following environmental study |work=[[The Straits Times]]}}
 
===== Seh Ong Cemetery =====
Seh Ong Cemetery was first established sometime in the 1870s. The land which the cemetery is located on was bought by Ong Hew Ko, [[Ong Ewe Hai]], and Ong Chong Chew, who gave it to the Seh Ong Kongsi, a [[Hokkien]] clan.{{Harvnb|Song|1923|p=161}} The Seh Ong Kongsi used the land as a village for Chinese immigrants before also coming to use the land as a cemetery by the 1870s.{{Cite news |last=Zaccheus |first=Melody |date=9 October 2016 |title=Found: Tomb of pioneer who donated land for Greater Bukit Brown cemetery |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} In 1919, the [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] acquired the land. In 1998, the [[Land Transport Authority]] exhumed some graves from Seh Ong Cemetery for upgrading works to the [[Pan Island Expressway]].{{Cite news |date=5 April 1998 |title=Graves to make way for PIE project |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=29 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} The total amount of graves between Bukit Brown and Seh Ong is estimated to be around 200,000.{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Ian |date=2017-04-04 |title=Here Lies a Graveyard Where 'East and West Came Together' |work=[[The New York Times]]}}
 
==== Traditional practices ====
Due to Bukit Brown Cemetery's high Chinese population, [[traditional Chinese festivals]] are held there annually; these include the [[Qingming Festival]], during which [[traffic police]] are required to regulate the high traffic flow into the cemetery.{{Cite news |date=25 March 1961 |title=Cheng Beng traffic plans |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=4 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |date=3 April 1972 |title='Avoid traffic hold-up on Cheng Beng' call |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=7 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}{{Cite news |date=3 April 1960 |title=The big trek to the cemetery |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=11 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}  During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore|COVID-19 pandemic]], the government advised visitors to Bukit Brown Cemetery and [[Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium]] to be in groups of four and to refrain from taking with them elderly family members.{{Cite web |last=Heng |first=Terence |date=5 April 2021 |title=Commentary: Why crowds will keep heading to the cemeteries and columbaria during Qing Ming |publisher=[[Channel NewsAsia]]}}
 
The [[Hungry Ghost Festival]] is another festival that is usually performed by representatives of [[Chinese temples]] who, despite having no relation to the deceased, perform rituals and make offerings to them. The representatives regard this as a form of charity because the deceased do not have descendants to perform the rituals for them.{{Harvnb|Siew|2013|p=35}} The [[Winter Clothes Festival]], held during the tenth [[Chinese Lunar Calendar|Lunar Month]], is also held at Bukit Brown Cemetery. Although less commonly practised, it has been held annually since 1996 by the Heng Kang Tian Temple.Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, p. 10
 
==== Environment ====
 
===== Vegetation =====
Due to its dense vegetation, Bukit Brown Cemetery helps to prevent [[Floods in Singapore|flooding]] caused by [[surface runoff]] and serves as a [[carbon storage]] site. In a [[position paper]], Singapore Heritage Society argued that the cemetery should be kept for these reasons. Other organisations requested that the government carry out "a comprehensive environmental impact assessment" of the cemetery;{{Harvnb|Goh|2014|pp=175–176}}{{Cite web |last1=Chong |first1=Terence |last2=Chua |first2=Ai Lin |last3=Lim |first3=Han She |last4=Yeo |first4=Kang Shua |last5=Goh |first5=Raymond |date=January 2012 |title=Position Paper on Bukit Brown |publisher=Singapore Heritage Society }} the [[Nature Society (Singapore)]] (NSS) also carried out a position paper. Plants in the cemetery grounds include ''[[Campnosperma auriculatum]]'' (terentang) and ''[[Macaranga gigantea]]'' (giant mahang).{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Hua Chew |date=17 July 2015 |title=Biodiversity importance of Bt Brown |work=[[The Straits Times]]}}
 
In the 1950s, Bukit Brown Cemetery was cleared of its vegetation, but soon became overgrown again.{{Cite book |last=Barnard |first=Timothy P. |title=Nature Contained: Environmental Histories of Singapore |date=2014 |publisher=[[Project Muse]] |pages=45}} The cemetery's vegetation has been described as a "neglected space" with an "unrecognisable landscape".{{Harvnb|Maddrell|2023|p=48}} In 2014, a [[bush fire]] broke out that spread to an area of about "1½ football fields" which took the [[Singapore Civil Defence Force]] (SCDF) two hours to put out. A study carried out from 2019 to 2022 by the [[Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum]] (LKCNHM) studied the plants at Bukit Brown Cemetery and surrounding cemeteries, referring to the entire area as Greater Bukit Brown. The area contained 233 species of plants, of which 158 were considered native. Of the 158 native species, 76 are considered nationally threatened. Plant species found at Greater Bukit Brown include:{{Cite web |last=Jong |first=Ying Wei |date=18 November 2022 |title=A checklist of the vascular plant flora of Bukit Brown and Lau Sua, and suggestions for improving reporting practices in Biodiversity Impact Assessments |website=[[Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum]] |publisher=[[National University of Singapore]]}}
 
{{Columns-list|colwidth=20em|style=font-style: italic;|
 
[[Ailanthus integrifolia]]
 
[[Anodendron#Species|Anodendron candolleanum]]
 
[[Discospermum#Species|Discospermum malaccense]]
 
[[Hancea#Species|Hancea penangensis]]
 
[[Microcos#Species|Microcos tomentosa]]
 
[[Memecylon#A list of Memecylon species|Memecylon paniculatum]]
 
[[List of Piper species#B|Piper baccatum]]
 
[[Prunus arborea]]
 
[[Salacia (plant)#Species|Salacia korthalsiana]]
 
[[Trigonachras#Species|Trigonachras acuta]]
 
[[Xylopia magna]]
}}


===== Wildlife =====
=== 1800s: Early establishments ===
{{See also|List of mammals of Singapore|list of birds of Singapore}}
Bukit Brown Cemetery is known for its wildlife, making it a popular location with photographers, nature lovers, and [[Bird watchers|bird-watchers]].{{Harvnb|Goh|2014|p=174}} The cemetery also serves as a [[Urban green space|green space]] for joggers, cyclists, and horse-riders, who are from the nearby [[Singapore Polo Club]].{{Harvnb|Siew|2013|p=35}} In 2012, NSS recorded 90 resident and migrant birds, along with 48 species of other animals living at the cemetery.{{Harvnb|Maddrell|2023|p=47}} Mammals and birds seen at Bukit Brown Cemetery include the [[white-bellied woodpecker]], the [[changeable hawk-eagle]], the [[Sunda flying lemur]], and the [[large flying fox]].{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Rachel |date=6 February 2023 |title=Wildlife photographer peeks behind the urban jungle of Singapore |website=[[National Geographic]]}}{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Margie |date=2012 |title=Nature News |website=Nature Society Singapore |page=7}}


From July 2012 to October 2012, LKCNHM studied fishes in two streams at Bukit Brown Cemetery, called Bukit Brown Stream and Mount Pleasant Stream. Eleven species of fish were found, of which four were considered native. The native fish species were the [[walking catfish]], the [[Asian swamp eel]], the ''[[Oxyeleotris marmorata]]'', and the [[Penang betta]].{{Cite web |last1=Tan |first1=Jonathan Y. H. |last2=Tan |first2=Lowell H. C. |last3=Quek |first3=Glenn |last4=Lim |first4=Valerie S. F. |last5=Heok |first5=Hui Tan |date=27 September 2013 |title=The Fish Fauna of Bukit Brown, Singapore |website=[[Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum]] |publisher=[[National University of Singapore]]}} Additionally, from August 2022 to June 2023, six species of frogs were recorded from the Mount Pleasant Stream. The six frogs were the [[Duttaphrynus|bengal toad]], the [[crab-eating frog]], the [[Limnonectes blythii|Malayan giant frog]], the [[four-lined tree frog]], the [[Microhyla#Species|Mukhlesur's chorus frog]], and the [[American bullfrog]].{{Cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=Xuanhe |last2=Tam |first2=Odelia |date=28 June 2023 |title=Biodiversity Record: Frogs of Mount Pleasant stream at Bukit Brown |journal=[[Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum]] |volume=16 |publisher=[[National University of Singapore]] |doi=10.26107/NIS-2023-0060}}
George Henry Brown (1826–1882) was a nineteenth-century British merchant and ship owner who arrived in [[Singapore in the Straits Settlements|Singapore]] (then part of the [[Straits Settlements]]) in the 1840s and lived there until his death in [[Penang]] on 5 October 1882. His business, G. H. Brown & Co, was located at [[Raffles Place]]. He owned multiple plots of land in the colony, including a hilly plot he called Mount Pleasant, where he built a house named Fern Cottage. His attempts to grow nutmeg and coffee there were unsuccessful. The land was referred to as Brown's Hill, locally translated into Malay as Bukit Brown.


The area also serves as a [[Foraging|foraging ground]] and habitat for wildlife. Animals such as the ''[[Pseudotajuria donatana]]'' and the Sunda flying lemur from MacRitchie Forest, which is located north of Bukit Brown Cemetery, use the area as an extended foraging ground. Bukit Brown Cemetery also serves to connect animals travelling from MacRitchie to other areas such as [[Mount Faber]], [[Labrador Nature Reserve|Labrador]], and [[Telok Blangah]], which are located south of Bukit Brown.Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 5–6
Brown later sold the land to [[Chettiar]] Mootapa Chitty and Chinese businessman Lim Chu Yi, who in turn sold it to Ong Hew Ko, [[Ong Ewe Hai]], and Ong Chong Chew. The trio gave the land to the Seh Ong [[Kongsi]] in 1872, who in the 1870s turned it into a private cemetery for their members, leading to it being known as the Seh Ong Cemetery. The [[Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan|Hokkien Huay Kuan]] also buried their clan members there.


==== Graves ====
=== 1900–2000: Bukit Brown Cemetery ===


===== Architecture and design of graves =====
==== Background ====
Graves at Bukit Brown Cemetery were built with a variety of materials from Europe and East Asia, and display traditional building techniques of the 1920s and 1930s. The structure of a grave commonly began with brick, that was typically sourced from [[Alexandra Brickworks]] or [[Jurong Brickworks]], before being coated with plaster from Shanghai, China, although it was costly.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=178}} Bricks from Malaysia's Kluang and Indonesia's Batam were also commonly used.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|pp=178–179}} The material culture of graves at Bukit Brown Cemetery show Singapore's position as a global hub at the time, along with the changing tastes of the Chinese community and their incorporation of European and Asian influences.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|pp=180–181}}


Graves also represented the varying social statuses of decedents through their decorations. For example, decorative tiles from Europe and Japan were imported by wealthier Chinese. Other tiles, known as Peranakan tiles, were named after early Chinese immigrants to Singapore, who contributed to [[Straits Chinese]] culture. Graves were traditionally built on the sides of hills due to ''[[feng shui]]'' practices by the Chinese.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=179}} The decorative tiles were usually made of [[ceramic]], and sported [[Art Nouveau|art nouveau]] or [[Art Deco|art deco]]-like floral designs. Early tiles used came from the United Kingdom and Belgium, with later cheaper tiles originating from Japan. Such tiles were originally popular for the use of house decoration. [[Encaustic tile|Encaustic tiles]] originating from England were often used as domestic flooring in households, leading to their use in the flooring of a tomb's [[Terrace (building)|terrace]].
By the 1880s, expansion of the city centre was restricted by the scarcity of suitable land; surrounding land was either [[Swamp|swampland]] or taken up by cemeteries. Due to the Chinese belief in [[Feng shui|burying their dead on hillsides]], many sites suitable for residences were occupied by Chinese cemeteries, raising sanitation concerns and growing contention between the British authorities and Chinese communities.


Wealthier families would feature inscribed stone panels, [[Relief|stone reliefs]], and statues by their graves. The materials for these structures came from quarries in Singapore or Malaysia. Additionally, some graves utilised white stone, which was used for statues, and green stone, used for intricate reliefs, that originated from Fujian, China. Shops selling sculpted stones imported from China were commonly found along Kheam Hock Road. Marble [[headstones]] with lead lettering imported from Europe were used for those with more "Western tastes". Some graves have oval-shaped ceramic portraits of the deceased on the headstone. Techniques for making these portraits emerged from France; this style reached Singapore around the early 20th-century. Samples of these portraits show that, despite early pieces arriving from Europe, local businesses were eventually able to recreate them.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|pp=179–180}}
In 1887, a [[Bill (law)|bill]] authorising the regulation, licensing, and inspection of cemeteries was introduced at a [[Legislative Council of Singapore|Legislative Council]] meeting, particularly targeting Chinese cemeteries. [[Seah Liang Seah]], a Chinese member of the Legislative Council, requested a postponement of the bill, which seriously affected the interests of the Chinese community. Following multiple petitions, the bill was postponed and left in [[abeyance]] until 1896.


===== Individual gravestones =====
The reintroduced 1896 bill gave control of burial grounds to the [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] rather than the Legislative Council. The Commission could license and inspect burial grounds, close unsafe ones, and impose penalties for improper corpse disposal. Unlike the 1887 bill, private burial grounds would be allowed if licensed.


====== Gravestone of Oh Sian Guan and Yap Suan Neo ======
==== Municipal acquisition and creation of Bukit Brown ====
{{family name hatnote|Oh ''/'' Yap|lang=Chinese}}
{{Interlanguage link|Oh Sian Guan|lt=|zh|胡先愿}} ({{Zh|c=胡先愿}}; 1874–1943) and Yap Suan Neo ({{Zh|c=葉璇娘|links=no}}; 1876–1950) were born in [[Tong'an, Xiamen|Tong'an]] and [[Xiamen]], respectively. Oh was a banker of [[Hokkien|Hokkien descent]] who moved to Singapore in 1907, running a business at [[Telok Ayer Street]] called Chin Kiat with Tan Tiong Sing. He later became the founding director of [[Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation]]. His great-grandson is novelist [[Kevin Kwan]].{{Cite web |last=Jose |first=M. J. |date=17 August 2018 |title=The Real-Life Story Of Kevin Kwan That Inspired ''Crazy Rich Asians'' |website=[[Tatler Asia]]}}Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 87–88 On the left side of their gravestone, there is a carving of the Chinese legend "[[Legend of the White Snake|Madam White Snake Rescues Xu Xian]]" on the tomb arm. It shows [[Bai Suzhen]] approaching the temple where [[Xu Xian]] is being held. On the right side of the gravestone, it shows a carving of Chinese folklore character [[Nezha]] fighting the Dragon Prince, [[Ao Guang]], at his palace.Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 89–91


====== Gravestone of Ong Sam Leong and his family ======
The first official mention of a municipal Chinese cemetery came as early as 1904, when a group of Chinese residents, including Peranakan social activist [[Lim Boon Keng]], suggested that the Municipal Commissioners set aside a burial ground. In 1906, Lim again suggested a proper burial site, which the Municipal Commission unanimously agreed to. [[Ching Keng Lee]] also agreed on the importance of a municipal cemetery, and Singaporean politician [[Tan Kheam Hock]] supported the establishment of a public Chinese cemetery. After Bukit Brown Cemetery opened, Tan managed the cemetery until his death.
{{family name hatnote|Ong|lang=Chinese}}
Ong Sam Leong ({{Zh|c=王三龙|links=no}}; 1857–1918) was a Straits-born businessman of [[Peranakan Chinese|Perankan]] descent. Ong owned multiple rubber plantations and sawmills and was known for signing a contract to supply workers to help mine [[Phosphate mining|phosphate]] at [[Christmas Island]], Australia, which made him wealthy.Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 102–103{{harvnb|Tsang|2007|pp=79–80}} Ong's gravestone is a larger plot located on higher ground; poorer people were given smaller plots by the foot of hills. The Ong family had bought the large plot on the highest hill in the cemetery before it was acquired by the government.{{Harvnb|Chong|Bak|2019|p=174}}


About the size of ten three-room [[Housing and Development Board]] flats, Ong's gravestone is the largest in Bukit Brown Cemetery.{{Cite news |last=Ho |first=Alan |date=3 November 2011 |title=Bukit Brown deserves bustle of life |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=30 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}} Ong was buried with his wife Yeo Hean Neo (楊賢娘), his sons Ong Boon Tat (王文達) and Ong Peng Hock (王平福), and their wives Gwee Soon Neo (魏順娘) and Lim Yeok Quan (林育環), respectively. Ong and Yeo are buried in the main tomb in the centre whilst his sons and their wives are buried in two separate tombs located on the left and right of Ong's tomb.Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 102–103 Ong's gravestone is typical of Chinese practices. The granite tiling of Ong's gravestone in the shape of a large half moon is known as the Bright Hall and, according to ''[[feng shui]]'' practices, gathers [[qi]] to it. His tomb has two pairs of [[Chinese guardian lions|stone lions]] and statues of [[Sepoy|sepoys]] on either side to "guard" his tomb. Carvings on his gravestone include the story of [[Guan Lu#Extending Zhao Yang's lifespan|Guan Lu helping to extend Zhao Yan's lifespan]] and some of the [[The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars|24 stories of the Filial Pieties]].Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, pp. 97–101
The Municipal Commission considered sites at [[Keppel Harbour]], [[Holland Road, Singapore|Holland Road]], and [[Bidadari, Singapore|Bidadari]] before settling on the Seh Ong Cemetery in a meeting on 26 October 1917, particularly due to its size and cost. After multiple negotiations in which the Seh Ong Kongsi refused to give up the land, the Municipal Commission acquired a portion of the land through [[compulsory acquisition]] in 1919, along with other nearby parcels. Two years were spent creating the layout, building footpaths and facilities, hiring staff, and establishing by-laws. The by-laws were created by a subcommittee including Municipal Commissioners Tan and [[See Tiong Wah]].


====== Gravestone of Lee Hoon Leong ======
==== Opening of Bukit Brown and subsequent use ====
{{family name hatnote|Lee|lang=Chinese}}
Lee Hoon Leong ({{zh|c=李雲龍|links=no}}; 1871–1942) was a Straits-born Chinese businessman. Lee worked as a pharmacist and [[purser]] for the [[Heap Eng Moh Steamship Co|Heap Eng Moh Shipping Line]]. A member of the political [[Lee family (Singapore)|Lee family]], he was the father of [[Lee Chin Koon]], grandfather of the first [[Prime Minister of Singapore|prime minister]] [[Lee Kuan Yew]], and great-grandfather of the third prime minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]].{{Cite book |last=Corfield |first=Justin |title=Historical Dictionary of Singapore |date=2011 |publisher=[[Scarecrow Press]] |images=141–142}}Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, p. 58 On his gravestone, his date of death is recorded as 2602, referring to the [[Japanese calendar#Japanese Imperial Years (kōki or kigen)|Japanese calendar's Koki Year]]. Gravestones recording the date of death using the Koki calendar are common on gravestones built during the [[Japanese occupation of Singapore]], such as Lee's.Singapore Heritage Society, 2017, p. 59


{{Clear}}
The cemetery was officially opened as Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery on 1 January 1922. In 1923, the road leading to the cemetery was named Bukit Brown Road, and another was named Kheam Hock Road after Tan. The cemetery was initially unpopular with the Chinese; its first burial occurred in August 1922. It was separated into "general" and "pauper" sections, with the pauper section having no monetary cost for plots.


==== Notable burials ====
The fixed positioning of plots was unpopular, as the Chinese preferred individualised plots following [[Feng shui|traditional geomancy practices]]. The Municipal Commission eventually consulted the [[Chinese Advisory Board]], who amended the by-laws to better suit Chinese preferences, expanding plot sizes and changing layouts to face south or east. These changes made the cemetery more popular. By 1929, 40% of the dead among the Chinese community in Singapore were buried at Bukit Brown. In 1941, [[Choa Chu Kang Cemetery]] was established as Bukit Brown and [[Bidadari Cemetery]] were both running out of space.
Bukit Brown is believed to be the largest Chinese cemetery outside China. It is also the burial place of many of Singapore's earliest pioneers.{{Cite news |last=Sajan |first=Chantal |date=13 September 2020 |title=Heritage activists: Bukit Brown more than just a cemetery; it's a 'living museum' of Singapore's pioneers |work=[[The Straits Times]]}} Notable burials include:


[[Tan Lark Sye]] (1897–1972), Singaporean businessman{{Cite news |date=13 September 1972 |title=Simple funeral for Lark Sye on Sunday |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=10 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
During the [[Japanese occupation of Singapore|Japanese occupation]], mass communal trenches were dug to bury thousands of unidentified victims of Japanese bombings. By 1944, the cemetery had reached its allotted number of burials and no further burials were allowed except for reserved plots. In 1965, the [[Public Works Department (Singapore)|Public Works Department]] exhumed 237 graves to realign Lornie Road. Bukit Brown Cemetery was closed for new burials in 1973, with about 100,000 graves. From 1992 to 1993, 600 graves were exhumed from nearby cemeteries to widen the [[Pan Island Expressway]].


[[Ong Boon Tat]] (1888–1941), founder of [[New World Amusement Park]]{{Cite news |date=22 July 1941 |title=Funeral Announcement |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=2 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
==== 2000–present: Redevelopment plans and conservation efforts ====


[[Lim Chong Pang]] (1904–1956), Singaporean businessman and racehorse owner{{Cite news |date=22 July 1956 |title=Colony Horse Owner Dies |work=[[Sunday Standard (Singapore)|Sunday Standard]] |pages=1 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
In 2011, the area was designated for residential development, upsetting many activists who felt the cemetery should be preserved. After the [[Ministry of National Development (Singapore)|Ministry of National Development]] announced plans to convert the cemetery into a housing estate by 2030, groups such as the Rojak Librarian, All Things Bukit Brown, and SOS Bukit Brown were formed. In 2012, National Development Minister of State [[Tan Chuan-Jin]] announced that 5,000 graves would be exhumed to make way for a new eight-lane Lornie Highway.


[[Tan Kim Ching]] (1829–1892), Singaporean politician and businessman
During a budget debate, Tan acknowledged the importance of heritage conservation but restated that the highway was needed to connect the northern–northeastern region and reduce congestion on Lornie Road. On 19 March 2012, the number of graves to be exhumed was reduced to 3,746 after consultations with the [[Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan]], the [[Singapore Heritage Society]], academics, and grave experts. A documentation project helmed by anthropologist [[Hui Yew-Foong]] was formed as a government concession.


[[Cheang Hong Lim]] (1825–1893), Chinese [[opium]] merchant and philanthropist
Former politician [[Goh Choon Kang]] disagreed with comparisons between Bukit Brown and golf courses, stating that the dead should make way for the living. The [[Land Transport Authority]] was criticised for keeping its biodiversity impact assessment private. Bukit Brown activists contemplated launching a [[judicial review]], but an analysis found this unlikely to halt construction.


[[Tan Kheam Hock]] (1862–1922), Singaporean politician
Construction of the Lornie Highway began in 2011 and was completed in 2018. Exhumed remains were either reinterred into smaller plots or cremated by the [[National Environment Agency]]. The [[National Archives of Singapore]] digitised and released the burial registers of Bukit Brown Cemetery between April 1922 and December 1972 online. Bukit Brown Cemetery was listed on the 2014 [[World Monuments Watch]] as an "at risk site".


[[See Tiong Wah]] (1886–1940), Singaporean businessman and politician
== Geography ==


[[Gan Teong Tat]] (1878–1969), Malaysian merchant and politician
Bukit Brown Cemetery is located in [[Novena, Singapore|Novena]] in the [[Central Region, Singapore|Central Region]] of Singapore. It is bordered by the [[Pan Island Expressway]] to the south and [[Thomson Road, Singapore|Thomson Road]] to the east, and is bisected by Lornie Highway. The area within these roads contains multiple other cemeteries, so the terms "Bukit Brown" or "Greater Bukit Brown" can refer to the collection as a whole. Two non-operational [[Mass Rapid Transit (Singapore)|Mass Rapid Transit]] stations are located in the area: [[Mount Pleasant MRT station]] and [[Bukit Brown MRT station]].


[[Lee Choo Neo]] (1895–1947), Singaporean physician{{Cite news |date=9 September 1947 |title=Death |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=6 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
=== Mount Pleasant Cemetery ===


[[Tay Koh Yat]] (1880–1957), Singaporean entrepreneur{{Cite news |date=4 February 1957 |title=100 cars in bus owner's funeral procession |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=7 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, also known as Kopi Sua Cemetery or Coffee Hill Cemetery, is located near Thomson Road. Formerly part of Bukit Brown Cemetery, it was separated when the government exhumed six hundred graves in 1993 to widen the [[Pan Island Expressway]]. In November 2021, a portion was planned for redevelopment by the [[Housing and Development Board]], the [[Urban Redevelopment Authority]], and the [[Singapore Land Authority]], though the planned road was later adjusted following an environmental evaluation.


[[Tan Ean Kiam]] (1881–1943), Hokkien businessman and founder of [[OCBC Bank]]
=== Seh Ong Cemetery ===


[[Chew Boon Lay]] (1851 or 1852–1933), Chinese businessman and namesake of [[Boon Lay]]{{Harvnb|Tsang|2007|p=20}}{{Harvnb|Siew|2013|p=27}}
Seh Ong Cemetery was first established sometime in the 1870s on land bought by Ong Hew Ko, [[Ong Ewe Hai]], and Ong Chong Chew, who gave it to the Seh Ong Kongsi, a [[Hokkien]] clan. In 1919, the [[Municipal Commission of Singapore|Municipal Commission]] acquired the land. The total number of graves between Bukit Brown and Seh Ong is estimated at around 200,000.


[[Gan Eng Seng]] (1844–1899), Chinese philanthropist
== Notable burials ==


[[Koh Hoon Teck]] (1878–1956), Peranakan musician{{Cite news |last=Goh |first=Philip |date=16 February 1956 |title='Sing Pantuns For Me At My Funeral' |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=9 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
Bukit Brown is the burial place of many of Singapore's earliest pioneers. Notable burials include:


[[Khoo Kay Hian]] (1878–1966), Singaporean broker and founder of [[UOB-Kay Hian]]{{Cite news |last=Boland |first=Geoffrey |date=26 January 1966 |title=Leading Singapore share broker dies, 81 |work=[[The Straits Budget]] |pages=14 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
* [[Tan Lark Sye]] (1897–1972), Singaporean businessman
* [[Ong Boon Tat]] (1888–1941), founder of [[New World Amusement Park]]
* [[Lim Chong Pang]] (1904–1956), Singaporean businessman and racehorse owner
* [[Tan Kim Ching]] (1829–1892), Singaporean politician and businessman
* [[Cheang Hong Lim]] (1825–1893), Chinese [[opium]] merchant and philanthropist
* [[Tan Kheam Hock]] (1862–1922), Singaporean politician
* [[See Tiong Wah]] (1886–1940), Singaporean businessman and politician
* [[Gan Teong Tat]] (1878–1969), Malaysian merchant and politician
* [[Lee Choo Neo]] (1895–1947), Singaporean physician
* [[Tay Koh Yat]] (1880–1957), Singaporean entrepreneur
* [[Tan Ean Kiam]] (1881–1943), Hokkien businessman and founder of [[OCBC Bank]]
* [[Chew Boon Lay]] (1851 or 1852–1933), Chinese businessman and namesake of [[Boon Lay]]
* [[Gan Eng Seng]] (1844–1899), Chinese philanthropist
* [[Koh Hoon Teck]] (1878–1956), Peranakan musician
* [[Khoo Kay Hian]] (1878–1966), Singaporean broker and founder of [[UOB-Kay Hian]]
* [[Chew Geok Leong]] (died 1939), Chinese physician and former [[Qing dynasty]] official
* [[Tan Boo Liat]] (1881–1934), Singaporean businessman and philanthropist


[[Chew Geok Leong]] (died 1939), Chinese physician and former [[Qing dynasty]] official{{Cite news |last=Kwan |first=Chooi Tow |date=5 January 1993 |title=Grave guarded by statues of two Sikhs belongs to Chinese physician |work=[[The Straits Times]] |pages=20 |via=[[NewspaperSG]]}}
Lee Hoon Leong (1871–1942), a Straits-born Chinese businessman buried here, was the grandfather of the first [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]] [[Lee Kuan Yew]] and great-grandfather of the third Prime Minister [[Lee Hsien Loong]].


[[Tan Boo Liat]] (1881–1934), Singaporean businessman and philanthropistSingapore Heritage Society, 2017, p. 81
== See also ==


==== See also ====
* [[Former cemeteries in Singapore]]
* [[Bukit Brown MRT station]]


[[Former cemeteries in Singapore]]
== References ==


[[Bukit Brown MRT station]], a Mass Rapid Transit station named after Bukit Brown Cemetery
{{Reflist}}


[[Category:Cemeteries in Singapore]]
[[Category:Cemeteries in Singapore]]
[[Category:Novena]]
[[Category:History of Singapore]]
[[Category:History of Singapore]]
[[Category:Heritage conservation in Singapore]]
[[Category:Heritage conservation in Singapore]]

Latest revision as of 21:50, 15 June 2026

Bukit Brown Cemetery
Location details
Type Chinese municipal cemetery
Location Novena




Bukit Brown Cemetery, also known as the Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery or the Bukit Brown Chinese Cemetery, is located in Novena in the Central Region of Singapore. The site was originally owned by George Henry Brown, a British merchant, becoming known as Brown's Hill, translated into Malay as Bukit Brown. The site was eventually given to the Seh Ong Kongsi, who opened a private clan cemetery there in the 1870s.

Beginning in the 1880s, cemeteries in Singapore grew rapidly. In 1887, the Legislative Council passed a bill that limited their creation, particularly Chinese cemeteries. The Chinese community called for a municipal cemetery, with notable supporters including Tan Kheam Hock and Lim Boon Keng. The Municipal Commission settled on the Seh Ong Kongsi's land, acquiring the site in 1919 through compulsory acquisition.

Three years later, the Commission opened Bukit Brown Cemetery. By 1929, forty percent of Chinese buried in Singapore were interred there. The cemetery ran out of unreserved plots in 1944 and was closed in 1973, containing about 100,000 graves. In 2011, the government designated the area for residential development, leading to protests from activists who believed the cemetery should be preserved. The following year, around 3,700 graves were exhumed to build an eight-lane highway. The cemetery was designated as "at risk" on the 2014 World Monuments Watch.

Bukit Brown Cemetery is believed to be the largest Chinese cemetery outside of China, and is the burial location of many of Singapore's earliest pioneers.

Etymology

The cemetery and the surrounding area are referred to as Bukit Brown (bukit meaning hill in Malay), after George Henry Brown, the original owner of the land. The name was the first official designation in Singapore to be a hybrid of multiple languages, including both English and Malay. Brown named the hill Mount Pleasant; it is also locally referred to as Coffee Hill or Kopi Sua.

History

1800s: Early establishments

George Henry Brown (1826–1882) was a nineteenth-century British merchant and ship owner who arrived in Singapore (then part of the Straits Settlements) in the 1840s and lived there until his death in Penang on 5 October 1882. His business, G. H. Brown & Co, was located at Raffles Place. He owned multiple plots of land in the colony, including a hilly plot he called Mount Pleasant, where he built a house named Fern Cottage. His attempts to grow nutmeg and coffee there were unsuccessful. The land was referred to as Brown's Hill, locally translated into Malay as Bukit Brown.

Brown later sold the land to Chettiar Mootapa Chitty and Chinese businessman Lim Chu Yi, who in turn sold it to Ong Hew Ko, Ong Ewe Hai, and Ong Chong Chew. The trio gave the land to the Seh Ong Kongsi in 1872, who in the 1870s turned it into a private cemetery for their members, leading to it being known as the Seh Ong Cemetery. The Hokkien Huay Kuan also buried their clan members there.

1900–2000: Bukit Brown Cemetery

Background

By the 1880s, expansion of the city centre was restricted by the scarcity of suitable land; surrounding land was either swampland or taken up by cemeteries. Due to the Chinese belief in burying their dead on hillsides, many sites suitable for residences were occupied by Chinese cemeteries, raising sanitation concerns and growing contention between the British authorities and Chinese communities.

In 1887, a bill authorising the regulation, licensing, and inspection of cemeteries was introduced at a Legislative Council meeting, particularly targeting Chinese cemeteries. Seah Liang Seah, a Chinese member of the Legislative Council, requested a postponement of the bill, which seriously affected the interests of the Chinese community. Following multiple petitions, the bill was postponed and left in abeyance until 1896.

The reintroduced 1896 bill gave control of burial grounds to the Municipal Commission rather than the Legislative Council. The Commission could license and inspect burial grounds, close unsafe ones, and impose penalties for improper corpse disposal. Unlike the 1887 bill, private burial grounds would be allowed if licensed.

Municipal acquisition and creation of Bukit Brown

The first official mention of a municipal Chinese cemetery came as early as 1904, when a group of Chinese residents, including Peranakan social activist Lim Boon Keng, suggested that the Municipal Commissioners set aside a burial ground. In 1906, Lim again suggested a proper burial site, which the Municipal Commission unanimously agreed to. Ching Keng Lee also agreed on the importance of a municipal cemetery, and Singaporean politician Tan Kheam Hock supported the establishment of a public Chinese cemetery. After Bukit Brown Cemetery opened, Tan managed the cemetery until his death.

The Municipal Commission considered sites at Keppel Harbour, Holland Road, and Bidadari before settling on the Seh Ong Cemetery in a meeting on 26 October 1917, particularly due to its size and cost. After multiple negotiations in which the Seh Ong Kongsi refused to give up the land, the Municipal Commission acquired a portion of the land through compulsory acquisition in 1919, along with other nearby parcels. Two years were spent creating the layout, building footpaths and facilities, hiring staff, and establishing by-laws. The by-laws were created by a subcommittee including Municipal Commissioners Tan and See Tiong Wah.

Opening of Bukit Brown and subsequent use

The cemetery was officially opened as Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery on 1 January 1922. In 1923, the road leading to the cemetery was named Bukit Brown Road, and another was named Kheam Hock Road after Tan. The cemetery was initially unpopular with the Chinese; its first burial occurred in August 1922. It was separated into "general" and "pauper" sections, with the pauper section having no monetary cost for plots.

The fixed positioning of plots was unpopular, as the Chinese preferred individualised plots following traditional geomancy practices. The Municipal Commission eventually consulted the Chinese Advisory Board, who amended the by-laws to better suit Chinese preferences, expanding plot sizes and changing layouts to face south or east. These changes made the cemetery more popular. By 1929, 40% of the dead among the Chinese community in Singapore were buried at Bukit Brown. In 1941, Choa Chu Kang Cemetery was established as Bukit Brown and Bidadari Cemetery were both running out of space.

During the Japanese occupation, mass communal trenches were dug to bury thousands of unidentified victims of Japanese bombings. By 1944, the cemetery had reached its allotted number of burials and no further burials were allowed except for reserved plots. In 1965, the Public Works Department exhumed 237 graves to realign Lornie Road. Bukit Brown Cemetery was closed for new burials in 1973, with about 100,000 graves. From 1992 to 1993, 600 graves were exhumed from nearby cemeteries to widen the Pan Island Expressway.

2000–present: Redevelopment plans and conservation efforts

In 2011, the area was designated for residential development, upsetting many activists who felt the cemetery should be preserved. After the Ministry of National Development announced plans to convert the cemetery into a housing estate by 2030, groups such as the Rojak Librarian, All Things Bukit Brown, and SOS Bukit Brown were formed. In 2012, National Development Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin announced that 5,000 graves would be exhumed to make way for a new eight-lane Lornie Highway.

During a budget debate, Tan acknowledged the importance of heritage conservation but restated that the highway was needed to connect the northern–northeastern region and reduce congestion on Lornie Road. On 19 March 2012, the number of graves to be exhumed was reduced to 3,746 after consultations with the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, the Singapore Heritage Society, academics, and grave experts. A documentation project helmed by anthropologist Hui Yew-Foong was formed as a government concession.

Former politician Goh Choon Kang disagreed with comparisons between Bukit Brown and golf courses, stating that the dead should make way for the living. The Land Transport Authority was criticised for keeping its biodiversity impact assessment private. Bukit Brown activists contemplated launching a judicial review, but an analysis found this unlikely to halt construction.

Construction of the Lornie Highway began in 2011 and was completed in 2018. Exhumed remains were either reinterred into smaller plots or cremated by the National Environment Agency. The National Archives of Singapore digitised and released the burial registers of Bukit Brown Cemetery between April 1922 and December 1972 online. Bukit Brown Cemetery was listed on the 2014 World Monuments Watch as an "at risk site".

Geography

Bukit Brown Cemetery is located in Novena in the Central Region of Singapore. It is bordered by the Pan Island Expressway to the south and Thomson Road to the east, and is bisected by Lornie Highway. The area within these roads contains multiple other cemeteries, so the terms "Bukit Brown" or "Greater Bukit Brown" can refer to the collection as a whole. Two non-operational Mass Rapid Transit stations are located in the area: Mount Pleasant MRT station and Bukit Brown MRT station.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, also known as Kopi Sua Cemetery or Coffee Hill Cemetery, is located near Thomson Road. Formerly part of Bukit Brown Cemetery, it was separated when the government exhumed six hundred graves in 1993 to widen the Pan Island Expressway. In November 2021, a portion was planned for redevelopment by the Housing and Development Board, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, and the Singapore Land Authority, though the planned road was later adjusted following an environmental evaluation.

Seh Ong Cemetery

Seh Ong Cemetery was first established sometime in the 1870s on land bought by Ong Hew Ko, Ong Ewe Hai, and Ong Chong Chew, who gave it to the Seh Ong Kongsi, a Hokkien clan. In 1919, the Municipal Commission acquired the land. The total number of graves between Bukit Brown and Seh Ong is estimated at around 200,000.

Notable burials

Bukit Brown is the burial place of many of Singapore's earliest pioneers. Notable burials include:

Lee Hoon Leong (1871–1942), a Straits-born Chinese businessman buried here, was the grandfather of the first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and great-grandfather of the third Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

See also

References

Template:Reflist

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