Queenstown Library Food
Muriel Pelley
The papers reported that the lease of the building is up for renewal in 2010. The former thriving Margaret Drive neighbourhood around the library is shrinking, especially so after the polyclinic next door has been relocated.
Anyone who had visited the Queenstown Library would definitely have taken a meal or drink from the food centre just opposite the road. Famous for its various stalls of local food, many of the hawkers have been doing business there for years.
This blog is my attempt at second shot - precision heritage photography - and my search for little nuggets of history and heritage locally and overseas. When free, I can be found wandering along the streets and elsewhere, trying to uncover their geographical past.
The old Margaret Drive area in 1967 was a part of my life when I studied in an evening "Lambaga" or AEB school nearby. Back then, the nights were bustling with activities and visitors, Tai Chung Emporium, coffee shops, makeshift hawkers besides the 2 cinemas, and makeshift stalls selling 45 rpm records. There was also a dome-shape 2-storey wet market called Duchess Estate Mkt. I also remember every Thursday's evenings, there was a pasar malam stalls lining the C'wealth Ave roadside. Just too many things to describe the area in the sixties. I miss this place alots.
Thank you for a great blog with lots of second shots, Icemoon. I was familiar with Margaret Drive since I stayed there after the Bukit Ho Swee fire in 1961. My sisters were living at Mei Ling St and Sturling Rd. I worked at Tanglin Rd for many years there. I knew Queenstown well.
With the redevelopment of of Margaret Drive and Queenstown central (the theatres and the food centre) it would be a transformed town.
I will miss this place. Spent the last 4 years patronising the library, eating the nasi padang, mee-siam, hot dessert and the chicken rice upstairs.
Pity that the authorities will have to 'develop' this area.
Soon it will be a playground for the rich - Tanglin is 'expensive' la. And Singapore is 'upgrading' again. SIGH!
My most distinct memory of Kay Siang Rd was going there in 1968 to collect the application forms to enrol in the pioneer batch of National Junior College. Kay Siang Rd is where the Min of Education was once located. I think I had to go for an interview - cannot recall for sure, must check with my NJC friends.
When I first saw the scaffolded & partially-demolished Queenstown flats while passing by in a MRT train, my mind went, "What ?! Oh no." Now I can only view these buildings in Google StreetView. Perhaps I should take screenshots, before Google updates its database.
Although I've never lived in that area & don't have very long-time memories of the landscape there, I do think that it's a pity to demolish all the old flats & the "Margaret Drive" food-centre. As the latter had 2 storeys, I considered it rather unusual. I wonder which other hawker centres in S'pore have 2 storeys of food stalls ?
Some years ago, I used to periodically walk from Holland Rd (via Peirce Rd, Ridout Rd, Swettenham Rd, Peel Rd) to reach Margaret Drive & Queenstown Library. Queentown Polyclinic was still operating along Margaret Drive, & I thought the old-fashioned premises looked rather quaint. (Sigh, I should've walked inside & explored the place.) Thank goodness Queenstown Library is still around, & I hope it stays there.
Pat, there are other food centres with two levels of hawker stalls, Golden Mile Food Centre n Berseh Food Centre are 2 good examples. There was another one with 2 levels of foodstalls, but it was demolished years ago, and I'm referring to Farrer Park Food Centre. Dear Pat, I think you seldom move around, eh ?
There is an MRT ride video taken in 1991 on youtube. There is a scene of the land opposite BLk 27 where there are no HDB flats. The video also shows the demolished HDB flats around Redhill. Perharps you can do a 2nd shot on these 2 places?
I'm glad I found this! I used to live at Queenstown, block 39A to be exact, and my best memories came from there. I just want to ask, is it possible to use some of your second shot photos in my project work presentation? I love the idea of having two photos at the same place showing temporal change and it would help very greatly with it. Hoep to hear form you soon! Thanks :)
Next to queenstown library there is a gate, where and how it got theren what's formerly in there? Anyone knows?
That big field, back in the 80s, what is it? Anyone can recall?
Back in the 80s i don't recall there is a driving range. What was it before?
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