STREET CORNER HERITAGE GALLERIES Behind every business that has stood the test of time lies a treasure
trove of stories that we don’t often think of when we drop by our neighbourhood tau sar piah shop,
or dabao our favourite chicken rice – the struggle of setting up shop; challenges that had to be
overcome along the way; or customers who have grown to become friends over the years. These
tales will now come into the spotlight through the National Heritage Board’s (NHB) Street Corner
Heritage Galleries scheme.
As part of its ongoing efforts under Our SG Heritage Plan to strengthen partnerships with
communities, and raise awareness and foster deeper appreciation for heritage in everyday
spaces, NHB will work closely with local shop owners with at least 30 years of history in selected
precincts to co-create “mini museums” that showcase the history and heritage of their respective
businesses and trades. Located on site, these galleries will display historical documents,
photographs and artefacts that tell the stories of these shops.
Mr Alvin Tan, Deputy Chief Executive (Policy & Community), NHB said: “Through the
scheme, we hope to identify existing heritage resources and perform ‘urban acupuncture’ by
introducing small-scale interventions to showcase these resources and in the process, revitalise
the precinct through street-level heritage. We adopted a participatory approach to instil a stronger
sense of ownership and to equip our precinct stakeholders with the necessary competencies in
heritage programming so as to grow the heritage ecosystem.”
The scheme involves collaboration between NHB museums, heritage institutions and
community galleries, and the Street Corner Heritage Galleries managed by local shop owners in
historic precincts. On top of providing funding, curatorial support and assistance in fabricating the
showcases, NHB will also work with local shop owners to develop programmes such as talks,
tours and workshops, and give them the opportunity to participate in key NHB events such as the Singapore Heritage Festival and the respective CultureFests of the heritage institutions in their
precincts.
From 10 March 2020, Street Corner Heritage Galleries will kick off with five community
stakeholders within the Balestier precinct - Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah, Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice,
Lim Kay Khee Optical and Contact Lens Centre, Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory, and
Sweetlands Confectionery and Bakery. The scheme will subsequently be rolled out in four other
precincts – Kampong Gelam, Little India, Kreta Ayer/Chinatown and Geylang Serai – by 2022.
Loong Fatt Tau Sar Piah
Metal cup (These metal cups were formerly used to
make butter cakes.) Rolling pin (This wooden rolling pin was used to knead
dough, after which a sweet or savoury filling
is added, and the mix placed into the oven
for baking.)
A packaging box from the 1980s, which
was used for wedding cakes or tau sar piah
presented as traditional betrothal gifts
known as Guo Da Li (过大礼).
This advertorial from the 1970s bears the
Chinese characters for “Double Happiness”
(囍)， a common motif used on Chinese
wedding gifts and decorations. This receipt from 1953 was issued by Ngee
Ann Kongsi, Loong Fatt’s landlord, which
built this row of shops in 1947. Loy Kee Chicken Rice
Loy Nie In and Qua Tee used these
choppers to portion out chicken for their
customers. The larger chopper (below) was
used by Loy, while the smaller chopper was
used by his wife.
This menu and receipt were used by Loy
Kee during the 1980s, when the stall was
based at Whampoa Market.
This metal basket was used to store eggs
that would be cracked open and added to a
piping hot bowl of chicken or pork porridge,
which Loy Kee still serves today. Loy Nie In and Qua Tee at the opening of
Loy Kee Best Chicken Rice at Balestier
Road in 1994. Qua Tee preparing chicken rice for hungry
customers at Whampoa Market in 1984. This shop was formerly a kopitiam called
Jee Juan Restaurant, which first opened in
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