Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Heritage Secrets

There’s more to the Singapore Botanic Gardens than meets the eye. 

Steeped in rich heritage, here are some interesting historical facts about our first UNESCO Heritage Site that you may not know!

The colonial government granted 22 hectares of land in Tanglin to the Agri-Horticultural Society in 1859. This land was obtained from the merchant Hoo Ah Kay, who was a leading member of the Agri-Horticultural Society. This agreement provided the location for the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

The Gardens was originally created as a pleasure garden for the members of the Agri-Horticultural Society and was laid out in the style of the English Landscape Movement which focused on natural features and free-flowing landscapes. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the Gardens focused on trialling plants of economic value as well as ornamental plant cultivation. Many buildings in the Gardens have heritage value as well. If you visit the Seed Bank, Ethnobotany Centre or the Heritage Museum, be sure to pause and admire the historical architecture of these buildings. 

Have you ever wondered why it isn’t named the ‘Singapore Botanical Gardens’? For the adjective meaning of or relating to botany or the cultivation of plants, ‘botanic’ and ‘botanical’ are both acceptable, and there is no difference between them. 

‘Botanic’ is the older form of the adjective, while ‘botanical’ is more commonly used today. Although its use may have gradually faded over time, it has been kept in the names of many botanical institutions founded over a century ago, as is reflected in the name of our own garden!

Swan Lake, constructed in 1866 shortly after the Gardens was established, is considered to be the oldest ornamental water feature in Singapore. Originally called First Lake or Main Lake, it was renamed after a pair of Mute Swans from the Netherlands that made the lake their home.

The lake is slightly less than 1.5 hectares, approximately 4 metres in depth, and provides habitat for numerous species of aquatic plants and fishes. But did you know that it played host to an escaped crocodile in the late 1800s? The lake was drained to catch the reptile, so when you visit the Gardens today, you do not have to worry about having a surprising encounter!

Did you know that the Singapore Botanic Gardens’ Rain Forest is one of the only remnants of primary rainforest left in Singapore? Located in the heart of the city and only a hop away from Singapore's busiest shopping precinct, Orchard Road, the 6.2-hectare rainforest is home to more than 300 species of flora.

It is a national treasure not only for its rich biodiversity, but also because it is part of the original site of the Botanic Gardens founded in 1859. Given that more than 80% of the plant species found in the Rain Forest are rare or endangered in Singapore, it plays an important role in ensuring the conservation of these species.

The Singapore Botanic Gardens is more than a garden, it also houses one of the oldest reference libraries in Southeast Asia. It was established in 1875 and is almost as old as the Gardens itself! 

Located in the Botany Centre, it contains more than 30,000 books, periodicals, historical maps and botanical artwork. Although access to many of these historical materials is restricted for their protection, the Public Reference Library showcases herbarium specimens of plants common in Singapore, and offers a range of books and other horticultural and botanical resources for visitors to peruse. 

Visit NParksSG, our YouTube Channel that serves as a one-stop repository for some 300 video resources. The videos range from DIY gardening and related crafts to virtual tours of our green spaces and livestream events. 

For more information about the flora and fauna found in Singapore, please visit NParks Flora and Fauna Web.

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Text by Bryan Wu