Hillview, Singapore
Hillview (山景) is a private residential district nestled in the northwest of Singapore, overlooking Bukit Timah Hill and the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.[1] The Nature Reserve was established in 1883. By 2014, an eco-link bridge will generate greater bio-diversity by connecting both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
From the early 1940s to the late 1980s, Hillview was a semi-industrial area with facilities such as Old Ford Motor Factory (built in 1941), Castrol Oil Company and Cycle & Carriage Daimler-Benz car assembly plant (built in 1965). Subsequently, these facilities (other than the old Ford Motor factory, which was gazetted as a national monument) made way for new private residential developments.
Located just beside Bukit Timah[2] Hill, the area witnessed one of the fiercest military encounters[3] during World War II as the Bukit Timah area held strategic and tactical importance to both the Japanese and the British. The Ford Motor Factory[4] most notably served as the venue on 15 February 1942 for the formal surrender of the Malayan Peninsula by the British Commanding Officer, Lt-Gen. Arthur Ernest Percival, to the Japanese Commander of the 25th Army, Gen. Yamashita Tomoyuki.
One can also find the Old Bukit Timah Fire Station here. Built in 1956, this was one of the oldest fire station of Singapore. Other colonial fire stations can also be found at Hill Street (Central Fire Station), Geylang and Alexandra.
Since the 19th century, Bukit Timah Hill and its surrounding area, which is away from the hustle and bustle of the city, have been regarded as the perfect sanctuary and getaway for the European expatriates in Singapore.
Bukit Timah Hill was once an active quarrying site in the mid-20th century. Hindhede Quarry, named after the Danish civil engineer, Jens Hindhede, once operated a granite quarry until it ceased operations around late 1980s. It has since been converted into Hindhede Nature Park and is a popular spot where visitors come to enjoy its scenic beauty.
In 1929, the Cold Storage Company bought 24 hectares stretch of forested land across Hillview. This area became known as Dairy Farm, named after the company's dairy farm business, which supplied the supermarket company with locally produced fresh milk. It has now been converted into Dairy Farm Nature Park. At the southern end of the park lies the Singapore Quarry, where visitors can relax and enjoy the picturesque view.
The KTM Malayan Railway used to operate passenger and freight services that ply through Hillview, from Malaysia in the north to Tanjong Pagar station in the south. Under a bilateral agreement signed between Singapore and Malaysia, the railway land has been handed back to Singapore. There are now plans to redevelop the railway land running along Hillview into a Rail Corridor[5]. Ideas include a Green Belt, venue for sports (trekking), art (sculptures), culture (museum) and horticulture. Of significance are the 2 railway truss bridges running along near Hillview.
Princess Elizabeth Estate, which was previously located along Hillview Avenue's Elizabeth Drive, was built around 1951 to commemorate the wedding of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) to Prince Philip (the Duke of Edinburgh) in 1947.
There was also Housing Development Board (HDB) estates built around 1979 at the north end of Hillview, with a community centre, a wet market, a hawker centre and some neighbourhood shops. In 1999, the government announced that the HDB estate would be relocated to Bukit Gombak via the largest Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). The residents started the relocation in 2003-2005. By late 2005, the last HDB estate was demolished.
Today, as one of the affluent residential areas in Singapore, the Hillview residences boast several private condominiums and landed properties. It is served by restaurants & delicatessen, watering holes (e.g. Harry's), cafes, and convenience stores (e.g. Cold Storage) at The Rail Mall.
A new commercial shopping mall, hillv2, at the beginning of Hillview Avenue is due to be completed by end 2013. It will be built on part of the site where the HDB blocks once stood. It will house Dean & DeLuca [6] and Cold Stone Creamery.
By 2015, Hillview will be served by the upcoming Hillview MRT Station[7] via the Downtown Line[8] .
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