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Sembawang

DEFINITION

Sembawang is situated in the northern part of Singapore, and is bordered by the Straits of Johor in the north, Simpang in the east, Woodlands in the west, and Mandai on the south.

ETYMOLOGY

  • The earliest reference to Sembawang is found in Franklin and Jackson\'s 1830 plan of Singapore. It is said that the Sembawang area is named after the Sembawang Tree. In addition, the Malay term bawang refers to “onions”.
  • In the 19th century and early 20th century, there were gambier, pepper, rubber and pineapple plantations located in Sembawang.
  • In 1923, the British Army started the construction of a naval base in Sembawang. Opened in 1938, the base was finally completed in 1941. At the time, local businesses seized the opportunity to set up shops in Sembawang, contributing to its rapid growth.
  • In 1968, the Singapore Government took over the naval base, which was then developed into an operational shipyard by Sembawang Shipyard Pte Ltd.
  • Today, there are several roads around Sembawang, such as Canada Road and Montreal Road, which were named in commemoration of the British naval base.
  • In 1996, Sembawang underwent urban renewal and was developed into a new town.
  • Built in the early 1850s, Sembawang Road is the oldest road in Yishun and Sembawang. It was originally named Seletar Road, but was renamed in 1938.

SAMPLE SENTENCE

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will launch 7800 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats in ang mo Kio, Bishan, Choa Chu Kang, Geylang, Pasir Ris, Tampines, Tenggah and Woodlands in its sales exercise in August this year. Another 5700 BTO flats in Bishan, Sembawang, Tampines, Tenggah and Toa Payoh will be offered in November. (Lianhe Zaobao, 01/07/2020)

RELATED INFORMATION

  • The Sembawang Hot Spring is the only natural hot spring in Singapore. It is said that the hot spring was discovered in 1908. In 2002, the Government constructed a piping system to allow the public to collect water from the hot spring. The Sembawang Hot Spring Park underwent a 16-month redevelopment from August 2018.