API heritge trail – Bukit Brown Cemetery (Kopi Sua) 23/4/07
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Pioneers’ Burial Ground – Famous Graves in Coffee Hill (Kopi Sua)
What is popularly known as Bukit Brown Cemetery, has in the past 30 years been downsized due to redevelopment. But still, there are many graves of the rich and famous residing there, including Chew Boon Lay, Cheang Hong Lim, Lim Chong Pang etc.
As there have not been any systemic planning, many old graves are overgrown with creepers.
Wan Bao reporter following Asia Paranormal Investigators (API) Raymond and Charles Goh to Bukit Brown for a tour recently.
Considering the government pace in redevelopment, the Goh brothers believe that Bukit Brown could be next on the list, therefore they have started to archive the old tombs, and now have a collection of 200 – 300 old tomb pictures.
The Goh Brothers also draw a rough sketch of Bukit Brown with various locations of the famous tombs.
Raymond Goh (43) in the pharmaceutical business, said of his interest in tombs< "From a simple tomb, one can deduce the structure of a family, and from the design and layout of the tomb, one can also understand the culture and historical background of the tomb." Charles Goh (39), safety manager also explained that once they discovered a famous tomb, they would study and research more into the background of the tomb and its descendents. 80,000 Graves in Bukit Brown Cemetery
According to NEA, there are 5 separate cemeteries linked together by Coffee Hill (or Bukit Brown) – Bukit Brown, Lao Sua, Coffee Hill, Gan Eng Seng and Ong Clan Cemetery.As for Bukit Brown Cemetery itself, it has 68.8 acres, with 80,000 graves.
According to the Goh brothers, this land was owned by a shipowner called George Henry Brown in the 19th century.
BUKIT BROWN MRT
As our country is developing its MRT line, there is even one station called Bukit Brown Station. Therefore, there was speculation that Bukit Brown could be utilized by the government for redevelopment.
To a question from Wan Bao, URA, using a 2003 Master Plan said that the cemetery has 8 acres to be used as “reserve sales land”. But the land use has not been clarified yet, but wll probably be made known when 2008 master plan is announced.
But according to the MRT Circle Line construction, the authorities have started to build a basic MRT structure.
Previous incidences of redevelopment of Bukit Brown Cemetery
1981 – For widening of Pan Island Expressway
1984 – St Joseph’s Institution development plan resulted in relocation of 68 graves
1993 – Widening of expressway resulted in relocation of 600 graves
Who is buried here?Cheang Hong Lim (1825 – 1893)
There were many old places like Cheang Hong Lim, Cheang Wan Seng, Hong Lim Green etc named aftter this Chinese leader. Especially Hong Green Park is built from his donation of 3000 dillars.
Cheang Hong Lim inherited his father Cheang Sam Cheow ‘s local produce business and once changed the name to Chop Wan Seng. He even obtained the rights from the colonial government for the rights to sell opium and liquor related business, expanding his business and becoming a very rich man.
Cheang Hong Lim was a philantrophist, he even has his own fire bridage, constructed orphanages, building temples and schools etc
As the name engraved on the tomb was not Hong Lim, it was not recognised as his grave for quite some time. The Goh brothers identified the grave based on the deceased date, and the sons’ name on the side of the grave
Chew Boon Lay (1864 – 1942)
Known as the Rubber King, Chew Boon Lay came to Singapore in the 1870s in search of fortune. He worked hard for 20 years before he started his first factory to make soap and biscuits.
He also brought large pieces of land in the South Western Part of Singapore, planting gambier and pepper, and also opened two roads.
These land were later taken over by the colonial government. Now there is a road, school and place in Jurong named after him.
Tan Kim Ching (1829 – 1892)
Tan Kim Ching is the eldest son of Tan Tock Seng, and was an influential man during his time. Not only was he the consul of Siam for Singapore, he also have good relationships with the Qing, Colonial government and the Japanese Imperial Family. According to records, Tan Kim Ching was first buried at 13th miles Changi Road at a private cemetery before being relocated to Bukit Brown in 1940.
Lim Chong Pang (1904 – 1956)
Lim Chong Pang was the 2nd son of Lim Nee Soon, a pioneer and philanthrophist. Chong Pang Road and Chong Pang Village is named after him.
Lim Chong Pang used to assist his father in the rubber business. From 1930 – 1939, he was a committee member of the Singapore Village Affairs. Due to his achievement, the colonial government named Gou Sui Kang area as Chong Pang Village.
Towards the end of 1930’s, he started to enter into the movie industy, and opened several movie houses and South East Asia Movie Compnay. He was also involved in charitable organisations, anad also many trade organisations and associations.
Ong Sam Leong (1857 – 1918)
The tomb of Ong Sam Leong was once overgrown and was only recently rediscovered last May. Singapore Heritage Society at that time said that although they knew the tomb was in Bukit Brown somewhere, but they could not find it. It was only found last year by a former member of the National Archives. The size of this grave was said to be about 10 three HDB room flats.
Ong Sam Leong was born in Singapore in 1857, and became a trader when he was 21 years old. He only started to become rich when he started to supply mining workers to phosphate rich Christmas Island. When he died in 1918 Feb 7, he left behind property and rubber plantations throughout Malaysia and Indonesia
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Pioneers’ Burial Ground – Famous Graves in Coffee Hill (Kopi Sua)
What is popularly known as Bukit Brown Cemetery, has in the past 30 years been downsized due to redevelopment. But still, there are many graves of the rich and famous residing there, including Chew Boon Lay, Cheang Hong Lim, Lim Chong Pang etc.
As there have not been any systemic planning, many old graves are overgrown with creepers.
Wan Bao reporter following Asia Paranormal Investigators (API) Raymond and Charles Goh to Bukit Brown for a tour recently.
Considering the government pace in redevelopment, the Goh brothers believe that Bukit Brown could be next on the list, therefore they have started to archive the old tombs, and now have a collection of 200 – 300 old tomb pictures.
The Goh Brothers also draw a rough sketch of Bukit Brown with various locations of the famous tombs.
Raymond Goh (43) in the pharmaceutical business, said of his interest in tombs< "From a simple tomb, one can deduce the structure of a family, and from the design and layout of the tomb, one can also understand the culture and historical background of the tomb." Charles Goh (39), safety manager also explained that once they discovered a famous tomb, they would study and research more into the background of the tomb and its descendents. 80,000 Graves in Bukit Brown Cemetery
According to NEA, there are 5 separate cemeteries linked together by Coffee Hill (or Bukit Brown) – Bukit Brown, Lao Sua, Coffee Hill, Gan Eng Seng and Ong Clan Cemetery.As for Bukit Brown Cemetery itself, it has 68.8 acres, with 80,000 graves.
According to the Goh brothers, this land was owned by a shipowner called George Henry Brown in the 19th century.
BUKIT BROWN MRT
As our country is developing its MRT line, there is even one station called Bukit Brown Station. Therefore, there was speculation that Bukit Brown could be utilized by the government for redevelopment.
To a question from Wan Bao, URA, using a 2003 Master Plan said that the cemetery has 8 acres to be used as “reserve sales land”. But the land use has not been clarified yet, but wll probably be made known when 2008 master plan is announced.
But according to the MRT Circle Line construction, the authorities have started to build a basic MRT structure.
Previous incidences of redevelopment of Bukit Brown Cemetery
1981 – For widening of Pan Island Expressway
1984 – St Joseph’s Institution development plan resulted in relocation of 68 graves
1993 – Widening of expressway resulted in relocation of 600 graves
Who is buried here?Cheang Hong Lim (1825 – 1893)
There were many old places like Cheang Hong Lim, Cheang Wan Seng, Hong Lim Green etc named aftter this Chinese leader. Especially Hong Green Park is built from his donation of 3000 dillars.
Cheang Hong Lim inherited his father Cheang Sam Cheow ‘s local produce business and once changed the name to Chop Wan Seng. He even obtained the rights from the colonial government for the rights to sell opium and liquor related business, expanding his business and becoming a very rich man.
Cheang Hong Lim was a philantrophist, he even has his own fire bridage, constructed orphanages, building temples and schools etc
As the name engraved on the tomb was not Hong Lim, it was not recognised as his grave for quite some time. The Goh brothers identified the grave based on the deceased date, and the sons’ name on the side of the grave
Chew Boon Lay (1864 – 1942)
Known as the Rubber King, Chew Boon Lay came to Singapore in the 1870s in search of fortune. He worked hard for 20 years before he started his first factory to make soap and biscuits.
He also brought large pieces of land in the South Western Part of Singapore, planting gambier and pepper, and also opened two roads.
These land were later taken over by the colonial government. Now there is a road, school and place in Jurong named after him.
Tan Kim Ching (1829 – 1892)
Tan Kim Ching is the eldest son of Tan Tock Seng, and was an influential man during his time. Not only was he the consul of Siam for Singapore, he also have good relationships with the Qing, Colonial government and the Japanese Imperial Family. According to records, Tan Kim Ching was first buried at 13th miles Changi Road at a private cemetery before being relocated to Bukit Brown in 1940.
Lim Chong Pang (1904 – 1956)
Lim Chong Pang was the 2nd son of Lim Nee Soon, a pioneer and philanthrophist. Chong Pang Road and Chong Pang Village is named after him.
Lim Chong Pang used to assist his father in the rubber business. From 1930 – 1939, he was a committee member of the Singapore Village Affairs. Due to his achievement, the colonial government named Gou Sui Kang area as Chong Pang Village.
Towards the end of 1930’s, he started to enter into the movie industy, and opened several movie houses and South East Asia Movie Compnay. He was also involved in charitable organisations, anad also many trade organisations and associations.
Ong Sam Leong (1857 – 1918)
The tomb of Ong Sam Leong was once overgrown and was only recently rediscovered last May. Singapore Heritage Society at that time said that although they knew the tomb was in Bukit Brown somewhere, but they could not find it. It was only found last year by a former member of the National Archives. The size of this grave was said to be about 10 three HDB room flats.
Ong Sam Leong was born in Singapore in 1857, and became a trader when he was 21 years old. He only started to become rich when he started to supply mining workers to phosphate rich Christmas Island. When he died in 1918 Feb 7, he left behind property and rubber plantations throughout Malaysia and Indonesia
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