Clarke Quay, SingaporeClarke Quay, Singapore (9 July 2006)


Clarke Quay is a historic quay and today a subzone of the Singapore River Planning Area, Singapore. The Clarke Quay subzone is bounded by River Valley Road, New Bridge Road, Havelock Road and Clemenceau Avenue.

Clarke Quay is located upsteam from Boat Quay. Clarke Quay is named after Sir Andrew Clarke, the second Governor of the Straits Settlements. According to Singapore Street Names1, Clarke Quay got its name in 1896. The streets that today bear the name Clarke Quay was originally two streets called East Street and West Street, on the northern part of Kampong Melaka. Today the Clarke Quay area has been transformed into a popular food and beverage precinct. The subzone covers 30 hectares, representing 31% of the Singapore River Planning Area.

During colonial times, Clarke Quay was where godowns (dockside warehouses) were located. Barges would bring the goods from the ships anchored at the mouth of the Singapore River upstream to Clarke Quay. At the height of trading, Singapore river is choked with bumboats jostling for position. Needless to say, the Singapore River was very polluted at that time.

After independence, the Singapore Government took steps to clean up Singapore River. By the mid 1980's all the trading companies have vacated Clarke Quay, as they did Boat Quay, and the government set in motion plans to revitalise Clarke Quay as a commercial, residential and entertainment enclave. The shophouses and godowns at Clarke Quay, Clarke Street and Reed Street were preserved, and the place turned into a pedestrian mall, complete with overhead shelter.

Map of Clarke Quay, Singapore

Sights at Clarke Quay, Singapore

  1. Canninghill Piers (GPS: 1.29156, 103.84463)
  2. Riverside Point (GPS: 1.28943, 103.8441)

Streets at Clarke Quay, Singapore


Clarke Quay roadsignClarke Quay roadsign (30 July 2017)


Clarke Quay, SingaporeThe road now known as Clarke Quay, skirting the Canninghill Piers development. (30 July 2017)


Clarke Quay, SingaporeRestored and readapted shophouses at Clarke Quay, Singapore (30 July 2017)


House of Seafood, Clarke Quay, SingaporeHouse of Seafood, Clarke Quay, Singapore (30 July 2017)


Clarke Quay at night (9 July 2011)

References

  1. Singapore Street Names - A Study of Toponymics by Victor R Savage and Brenda S.A. Yeoh (2013, 2023), ISBN 978-981-4408-35-6
  2. What's in the Name? How the Streets and Villages in Singapore Got Their Names by Ng Yew Peng (2018), ISBN 978-981-32-2139-0

List of Quays in Singapore; Discover Singapore

 Sights in Singapore

 Latest updates on Penang Travel Tips

Streets of Singapore and Map of Singapore Streets

Singapore MRT and Map of Singapore MRT

Postal Districts of Singapore and Map of Singapore Postal Districts

Planning Areas of Singapore and Map of Singapore Planning Areas

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About this website



Hello and thanks for reading this page. My name is Timothy and my hobby is in describing places so that I can share the information with the general public. My website has become the go to site for a lot of people including students, teachers, journalists, etc. whenever they seek information on places, particularly those in Malaysia and Singapore. I have been doing this since 5 January 2003, for over twenty years already. You can read about me at Discover Timothy. By now I have compiled information on thousands of places, mostly in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, and I continue to add more almost every day. My goal is to describe every street in every town in Malaysia and Singapore.
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