Golden Mile Complex (11 July 2011)
Golden Mile Complex (GPS: 1.30275, 103.86518) is a sixteen-storey shopping mall-cum-residential complex along
Beach Road, Singapore. It was named after the area between Beach Road and
Nicoll Highway, which was planned by the Singapore Government to be occupied by high rises building. The complex was built in 1973 at a cost of S$18 million.
The Golden Mile Complex was completed in 1973 at a cost of S$18 million. It was one of the early shopping malls of Singapore, with some 411 shops. Over the years, however, most of the shop outlets been taken over by Thai operators, so much so that entering the mall today is like arriving in Hatyai (and with all due respect to Hatyai, some of the shopping malls in Hatyai actually look better). There is even a Thai shrine on the grounds of the complex. The ground level of Golden Mile Complex is occupied by travel agencies selling bus tickets to Malaysia. For some reason, its being taken over by businesses operated by Thais and other neighbouring nationals has given it a rather shabby appearance, a situation mirrored by
Lucky Plaza in
Orchard Road.
The dilapidated appearance of Golden Mile Complex - despite a minor upgrading effort in 2003 - has not gone unnoticed. In 2006, Nominated Member of Member Ivan Png described it as a vertical slum, a terrible eyesore and a national disgrace, all apt descriptions of the mall. Today there is a plan to put the whole development for sale. If this happens, then we can see a total makeover of Golden Mile Complex. However, when I checked on Golden Mile Complex in 2017, it is pretty much the same as it was in 2011.
In May 2022, Golden Mile Complex was sold to a consortium comprising Perennial Holdings Private Limited, Sino Land and Far East Organization for S$700 million. As of June 2024, the building is under re-development.
Golden Mile Complex (26 July 2017)
Golden Mile Complex as senn from across Beach Road. (26 July 2017)
Logo of Golden Mile Complex (11 July 2011)
Thai shrine on the grounds of Golden Mile Complex facing Beach Road. (11 July 2011)
The interior of Golden Mile Complex (30 July 2017)
Eatery on the ground floor of Golden Mile Complex, no different from any working-class shopping centres in Malaysia. (30 July 2017)
My visits to Golden Mile Complex
30 July, 2017
My friend Evonne took me to Golden Mile Complex to buy banana fritters. Yes, banana fritters or goreng pisang. Apparently there is a stall inside the mall that sells very tasty banana fritters. It was just 5 pieces for S$2. Can you imagine deep frying with cheap oil in an air conditioned place? Of course the smell went all over. Nevertheless the banana fritters were tasty and I had great fun eating them.
The banana fritter seller at Golden Mile Complex (30 July 2017)
Basketful of freshly fried banana fritters. (30 July 2017)
How to go to Golden Mile Complex by public transport
Take the
Circle Line to the
Nicoll Highway MRT Station (CC5) and walk a short distance from there.