History of Chee Guan Chiang House

The House 25 Grange Road was built over another house, numbered 28 Grange Road, named Moss Bank, and was owned by Low Kim Pong, a highly respected leader in the Chinese community then. 

In 1913, the land was sold to Mutual Trading Ltd, and after that passed through many hands until the late 1920s when it came into the possession of Chee Guan Chiang.

In 1936, the house that currently stands, was designed and built by Ho Kwong Yew.

Known as the Leonie House, it served as boarding/lodging for the weary travellers.

In 1964, new Mgmt took over the management and the name was changed to New Leonie Guest House. 

A frequent traveller, Mr Harold Stephens, who used to stay at the House described his experience as such:

“I have to admit, I did like old Singapore, especially Leonie Guest House where I always stayed. It was a marvelous place with overhead fans and 12-foot high ceilings. The price was five US dollars a day, with breakfast. Today, there are no simple, inexpensive hotels or inns.”

API Charles Goh with Harolds Stephens (left) and Richard Noll, during a Bigfoot Expedition in Malaysia)

In 1973 the land with the houses on it was sold to Collin Development (now Lee Tat), and no development was made, in part due to the long legal tussle.

In the 1st 30 years under Lee Tat, the House and the estate was taken care of a gardener and a caretaker family, among them, a young boy who grew up and now works for SPH.

Next, the mystery of the strange Motif that patterned the railings both on the inside and outside the CGC House…