history of tanjong rhu

Tanjong Rhu was historically associated with boat-building and repairs, spanning from the 1800s to the 1980s, with road names like Sampan Place serving as reminders of this maritime past. In Malay, "sampan" refers to a small boat.

As recently as the 1980s and early 1990s, Tanjong Rhu was still an industrial zone filled with shipyards. The waters around the area were heavily polluted by industrial runoff and household waste, creating a harsh environment. In response, the Singapore Government initiated a major relocation effort to convert Tanjong Rhu into an upscale residential area. Land reclamation along the coast began in 1992, allowing private developers to launch luxury housing projects. Today, the shipyards have been moved elsewhere, and condominiums now stand in their place.