SRO Interviewer (SRO): You were previously at Carpenter Street; how did you come to possess your shophouse at 35 South Bridge Road? 

Doreen (D): We used to operate at Ellenborough Market in the 1970s. At that time there were 2 blocks of mixed-use development with a coffee shop on the 1st floor, offices on the 2nd and 3rd floor and residences above. The flats were point blocks, with 4-room flats and about 12 storeys high. The site is now occupied by Clarke Quay Central Mall. 

My shop was on the 3rd floor, but I moved out when the government called for the building to be torn down to make way for (Clarke Quay) Central. The government shifted the tenants to Victoria Wholesale Centre for 8 years. We used our unit at Victoria Wholesale Centre as a store. At the same time, we bought 35 South Bridge Road and moved there in 1993 as it was not too far from our original operating area.  

At Carpenter Street, there were previously shophouses which were torn down to accommodate the existing open-air carpark. 21 Carpenter Street housed a remittance house, and there was a lady with beehive hair who worked there. The paving of the five-foot way there was not level, and the original five-foot way was the height of the original road. Now the street level has been raised and there is a steep flight of steps between the five-foot way and the pedestrian walkway. 

SRO: What was the community like along the street at 11 Circular Road? 

D: We bought 11 Circular Road in 2000 because the unit was on auction and selling at a low price with a 999-year lease. At the time, my neighbours were involved in trading, with quite a few cloth/textile operators and a few restaurants around the area. 

SRO: What were mealtimes like at Boat Quay/Circular Road? What did you eat? Where did you go?  

D: When I was at Ellenborough market, there were a lot of zi char stalls to eat from. The original Ellenborough market area was bustling and there was a vegetable market with lots of Teochews hanging around the area, and there were many good eats from restaurants like Ah Orh Seafood, Liang Kee Teochew Restaurant, Fa Ji and Mong Heng restaurant. When we moved to South Bridge Road, we would cook our own food or sometimes walk to Fuhai and Chinatown area (current Hong Lim area) for meals. 

SRO: How did the Singapore River Clean up in 1977 – 1987 affect your business by the river?  

D: We were not affected, but cleaning took place along the whole stretch of the river for a long time. People living around the river moved back only after the river cleanup was completed. Residential blocks around the river were en-bloc-ed and residents were relocated to Redhill. Non-residential unit owners were compensated with money. 

SRO: How have things changed over the years?  

D: There were many changes over the years. There were a lot of Teochews in the area, which led to the street called Teochew Street 潮州街 but over time, a lot of them left the area, although the street is still called Tew Chew Street. Nearby, there was also the 同济医院 (Thong Chai Medical Institution) which still stands next to Havelock 2. I miss the Ellenborough market as only a few buildings from that time were preserved. For example, the rotunda public toilet 八角厕所 at Clarke Quay (currently CQ @ Clarke Quay’s Fountain Square). 

I have also heard of cars driving into the river at night due to poor visibility and the absence of barricades separating the road and the river. Similar incidents also happened near Daimaru (ex-Liang Court). Daimaru was a very crowded mall in the past, and there was a water fountain there. Before the Merchant Court Hotel (current Paradox Singapore Merchant Court), there were small streets in the area with a lot of food as well.