SINGAPORE - The Tan Kim Seng fountain is the only fountain in Singapore that was named after a Chinese to commemorate Tan Kim Seng's generous donation to the colonial government for the construction of a reservoir.
During the early days there were no waterworks in downtown Singapore; people had to collect water from wells or rivers and transport the water by bullock carts to the city centre for sale. In 1857, Tan Kim Seng donated $13,000 to the government for the construction of Singapore's first reservoir and waterworks.
The waterworks were completed in 1877 and officially opened the following year. However, Tan had already died on March 14, 1864, in Malacca at the age of 59. In 1882, the colonial government erected this fountain as a token of appreciation towards Tan Kim Seng.
The Tan Kim Seng fountain was designed by a famous architect from England. What is so special about the design? Find out more from this episode of Junior SG Adventures.
About Junior SG Adventures
Junior SG Adventures is an online bilingual infotainment series for youngsters aged between 7 and 14. In this series, youngsters can discover lesser-known stories behind iconic local landmarks and location, and learn more about Singapore's history and culture. Students can also test their knowledge after watching by doing the activities that will be featured in upcoming issues of Thumbs Up, a fortnightly current affairs publication for students.
Junior SG Adventures is also available on the zbschools.sg. All episodes come with Chinese and English subtitles.
