The News in Brief
The story begans last year. There are news reports that we need to expand Seletar Airport, right now a small, lightly-used airport for small craft (Straits Times, 6 Mar 06).
Not long afterward, reports follow about grand plans. Not just the airport, but the whole surrounding Seletar Camp area is going to be taken over for a large aerospace industrial park (ST, 11 May 06).
The catch is this: Seletar Camp is not empty land. In fact, it is one of the loveliest neighbourhoods in Singapore. The residents are shocked and saddened when they open the papers to find it announcing the impending destruction of their homes. Everyone hopes it will not come to pass. (ST, 12 Jun 06)
Why the film
There’s no other place in Singapore like Seletar. A colonial neighbourhood of a very friendly human scale, lush with foliage, and home to a close community, it harks back to a gentler time. It is possibly the most charming colonial neighbourhood in Singapore.
Unusually for colonial neighbourhoods, many of the residents are local Singaporeans. The people there love their homes with a passion. And so they should. Nowhere else in Singapore is there a place that really feels like home, the way Seletar does.
It’s a real shame to destroy such a place, as it’s the only one of its kind in Singapore. Therefore, something should be said.
March 15, 2009 at 5:01 am
I would dearly like to read the archives Dated December 2006 but it is password protected.
How can I register a password?
August 7, 2009 at 11:12 am
I lived and grew up at 12 Mornington Crescent. I lived at seletar airbase between the late 70’s till mid 90’s for a good twenty over years.
I have many many fond memories. Growing up with neighbours living at Edgeware Street, Mornington Crescent, St Martins Lane, Old Birdcage Rd….
Nothing can ever replace or re-produce it’s charm, unique sense of community, neighbourliness and camaradarie between residents. I remember afternoons playing soccer amongst neighbours at the many lush fields avalailable as well as late afternoon cycling around the estate which was the norm for many a resident then. People new those who lives amongst them by name back then. The BBQ’s between families and friends would sometimes last from evening till the break of morn the following day. Housewives would cycle to the wet market at Jalan Kayu or take a bus to the Seletar Hills market for their marketing needs. Seletar Airbase gave it’s residence such a strong sense of being and protection, beautiful, strong….it holds many secrets and many stories which I hope more people will come forward to tell. Do drop a note and share the memories if you have happened to have lived there before.