17 Facts About Balestier Road

Balestier Road is a sub zone located in the planning area of Novena in the Central Region of Singapore.

Balestier Road was in Singapore between 1834 and 1852 and was a botanist and agriculturist.

When Balestier Road left Singapore due to a health breakdown after the deaths of his son and wife in 1844 and 1847, he sold his plantation to Singapore authorities and the land was leased out to Chinese farmers.

Instance, the nickname “Recreation Balestier Road” is made popular with the growth of many sporting and recreational buildings within the vicinity in 1920s.

Apart from the century-old Goh Chor Tua Pek Kong Temple, Balestier area consisted of various prominent temples including Balestier Kwan Im Tng Temple, Chan Chor Min Tong, Tai Pei Yuen Temple along Jalan Kemaman and Burmese Buddhist Temple at Tai Gin Road.

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Balestier Road Market is the only 'rural' market conserved and in operation in Singapore.

Balestier Road Market is one of the first few wet markets in Singapore which was established as the result of this government measure.

In effect, the establishment of Balestier Market did not completely eradicate the traffic complaints from residents as there were still makeshift stalls along the road outside the market.

Therefore, despite having an allocated space for hawkers to sell their products, Balestier Road Market failed to gain popularity amongst residents.

Whampoa Wet Market and Hawker Centre known as the Tua Pah Sat, located a few streets away from Balestier Road Market was constructed in the 1980s to provide food for the rising population of Whampoa and to replace Raymond Market located at Jalan Tenteram.

In 1999, even after Balestier Road Market underwent a renovation, it ultimately still failed to compete with her "neighboring brother" because, during that period, most of the residential developments were situated around Whampoa Market.

Meanwhile, Balestier Road was still in the phase of redevelopment into a commercial, industrial and private residential district, resulting in existing residents relocating elsewhere.

Consequently, the business of remaining hawkers in Balestier Road Market continued to deteriorate, causing many stall owners who had been serving for decades to cease their operation entirely when the market closed for redevelopment in 2004.

Today, Balestier Road Market is home to many stallholders who were from markets which were either demolished, undergoing renovation or relocated.

Balestier Road Market provides a home for two lion statues previously from the Oasis Restaurant next to the former National Stadium, both of which were demolished in 2010 – a further example of how Balestier Road Market serve as a repository of cultural elements.

Only way to access the front entrance into Balestier Road Market is through the flight of stairs beside the main signage.

From a humble wet market for farmers to a food ration distribution centre and finally to a food centre selling local cuisine and delights, Balestier Road Market is one of the few markets that have survived through the rapid transformation of Singapore.