From The Straits Times Archives: A look back at Botanic Gardens' bid for Unesco status

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Published

May 16, 2015 at 12:00 PM

Singapore submitted its bid for the Botanic Gardens to be declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in February last year.

A panel of experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) has recommended that the 156-year-old Botanic Gardens be inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site on May 16.

This is the best of four possible results from a technical assessment of the historic site, and it means the Gardens has a high chance of becoming Singapore's first World Heritage site when the Unesco committee makes a final decision at its 39th session in Bonn, Germany in late June or early July.

We look back at some of the stories from the Straits Times Archives about Singapore's Botanic Gardens and its history.

In pictures: Singapore's Botanic Gardens

This story was first published in The Straits Times on May 18, 2015

Here's a closer look at the Botanic Gardens and some of its most iconic landmarks through the years.

All the pictures here.

Singapore Botanic Gardens recommended for World Heritage Site inscription by panel

The entrance to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

This story was first published in The Straits Times on May 16, 2015

A panel of experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) has recommended that the Gardens be inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Read about the latest development here.

Botanic Gardens' Unesco bid in final stage

The National Parks Board and National Heritage Board said on Saturday that a technical inspector from the International Council of Monuments and Sites (Icomos) had visited the Gardens in September last year as part of the bid evaluation process. PHOTO: ST FILE

This story was first published in The Straits Times on March 7, 2015

In March this year, the National Parks Board and National Heritage Board revealed that a technical assessor from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) had visited the Gardens last September.

Read more here.

Singapore Botanic Gardens: Still a delightful breath of fresh air

The Evolution Garden (above) sits on what used to be housing quarters for the staff of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Nov 28, 2014

Founded more than a century ago, the Botanic Gardens is still a vibrant pleasure ground for both Singaporeans and tourists. They are drawn there for its peace and serenity, for the regular concerts in the park, and for its collection of more than 1,200 species of orchids.

Read about it in our Street View series which focuses on Singapore neighbourhoods.

UK State Visit: New bloom in ties between Singapore and London botanic gardens

President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Mrs Mary Tan were shown tropical orchids at the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew in London on October 24, 2014, the fifth day of Dr Tan's six-day historic state visit to Britain. They also viewed a collection of Singapore-related items in the Kew archives, including photographs of rubber trees and key staff of the Singapore Botanic Gardens taken from 1879 to 1927. ST PHOTO: DENNIS THONG

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Oct 24, 2014

During his state visit to London in 2014, President Tony Tan Keng Yam visited Kew Gardens. Britain's Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew supplied the rubber seeds which were planted in Singapore's Botanic Gardens more than 100 years ago.

Kew Gardens also helped with Singapore's bid to get its Botanic Gardens declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Read about President Tony Tan's visit here.

7 things you may not have known about Singapore Botanic Gardens

Prince William and his wife Catherine Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with Vanda William Catherine, a white-and-purple orchid named in their honour at the National Orchid Garden of the Singapore Botanic Gardens on September 11, 2012. The British royal couple were in Singapore from September 11 to 13, 2012, as part of their nine-day Diamond Jubilee tour of the Asia Pacific region. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Jun 17, 2014

Singapore Botanic Gardens was ranked the number one park in Asia in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards for attractions. This is the second year in a row that the 74ha park has snagged the top spot.

Discover seven things you might not have known about the park.

Botanic Gardens submits bid to become first Singapore Unesco World Heritage Site

A view of Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bukit Timah Gate entrance. ST PHOTO: STEFFI KOH

This story was first published in The Straits Times on Feb 4, 2014

The nomination dossier sent to the United Nations included a document detailing the Gardens' historical, economic and socio-cultural importance, as well as a proposed site management plan that outlines how it will be protected in the future.