| Padang Walkabout will take you through the Civic District, around the Padang. You will pass by Tan Kim Seng Fountain, Cenotaph, see a Cannonball Tree, Indian National Monument, Queen Elizabeth Walk, Lim Bo Seng Memorial, Anderson Bridge, Dalhousie Obelisk, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall, Singapore Cricket Club, Old Parliament House, former Supreme Court Building, City Hall, Padang, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Singapore Recreation Club, and Civilian War Memorial.
 The Padang (政府大厦大草场), a Malay word meaning big field) in front of the City Hall was formerly known as the Padang Cricket Ground. Sir Stamford Raffles instructed the first resident of Singapore, William Farquhar, to reserve the Padang area for public purposes. A bronze statue of Raffles was placed at the centre of the Padang on 27 Jun 1877, however, on 6 Dec 1919, on the centenary of the founding of Singapore, it was relocated to the front of the Victoria Memorial Hall (now Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall).
World War 2 formally ended in Singapore, only in a second surrender ceremony held in Singapore on 12 Sep 1945, Admiral Lord Mountbatten accepted Japanese surrender in Singapore and witnessed the raising of the Union Jack at the Padang.
Singapore achieved self-government on 3 Jun 1959. That evening, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his new PAP team held a huge rally at the Padang.
Mr Yusof Ishak took his oath at the Padang to become the Republic's first president on 3 Dec 1959.
Singapore was separated from Malaysia on 9 Aug 1965 and became a sovereign nation. On 9 Aug 1966, Singapore's very first National Day Parade was at the Padang. It was a simple march-past involving some 23,000 participants and was a grand solemn affair.
In 2008, Singapore staged Formula One's first ever night race and around Padang is part of the race circuit.
On 14 Aug 2009, the world counts down (365 days away) to the Singapore 2010 first-ever Youth Olympic Games at the Padang.
 Start your tour by downloading the Padang Walkabout Guide here. Do not jay walk, please use the pedestrian crossing for safety purpose.
|
Dec 2009.