For many Singaporeans, Sembawang is just another small town up North of Singapore. But long before it became a quiet residential town with parks and MRT stations, did you know that Sembawang was once home to one of the largest naval docks in the world? As the crown jewel of British naval power in Asia, I believe that uncovering its transformation over the last century will reveal a fascinating journey!
Homage to our Earliest Inhabitants: Orang Seletar
This blog will start by acknowledging the stories of the many communities who settled in the area through the decades. Known as the earliest known inhabitants of Sembawang, the Orang Seletar, or more commonly (and broadly) as the Orang Laut, were a group of indigenous seafaring communities that lived around Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia and the Indonesian Riau Islands. To our Malaysian neighbours, the Orang Laut are also recognised as one of the 18 Orang Asli ethnic groups. Overtime, as different communities settled in, coastal kampongs like Kampong Tanjong Irau, Kampong Tengah and Kampong Wak Hassan sprung up (notably, majority of Singapore’s North was populated by Malay communities).
The Birth of a Naval Base
Post World War I ushered in a new era, where global naval power was shifting from Europe to the Pacific. The British Empire was worried. Japan’s military was growing stronger, and tensions in the region were rising. Britain needed a stronghold in Asia to protect its vast empire. Singapore, right in the heart of Southeast Asia, was chosen as the perfect place for a new naval base.
The existing shipyard at Keppel (check out our coverage HERE on Singapore Harbour Board — which has now ceased to exist) could not handle the latest British battleships. These massive ships had thick anti-torpedo bulges that made them too wide for the old docks. Desperate for a new site, the British turned to Sungei Sembawang. With deep waters, it was undoubtedly a strategic location along the Johor Strait, and imagination for a space for a world-class naval dockyard began.
Funding a Fortress
In 1923, the British Parliament approved plans for the Singapore Naval Base. But back in Britain, people weren’t exactly thrilled. They were exhausted from war and wanted the government to focus on social spending rather than military projects. To avoid spending too much too quickly, the British stretched out the timeline—what was supposed to finish in 1930 was pushed to 1933.
To lighten the financial burden, Britain asked its colonies for help. Singapore contributed land worth about £150,000, while Hong Kong chipped in £250,000. The biggest donation came from the Federated Malay States in 1926—a whopping £2 million! Even New Zealand got involved, pledging £1 million over eight years.
In 1928, work on the drydock and wharves finally kicked off. A South African company, Sir John Jackson Ltd., was awarded the contract for £3.7 million. Construction was massive, with over 5,000 workers and 100 British staff toiled away, digging millions of cubic feet of soil and hauling 1.6 million tons of granite from nearby Johor.
However, as concerns around construction grew politically abroad due to a new Labour government that came into power in Britain in 1929, the pace of construction was slowed down.
In 1931, the Japanese army invaded Manchuria. This was groundbreaking, as the British braced themselves with the looming prospect of a war with Japan. Thus, the completion of Sembawang Naval Base became a priority for Britain. And by sheer willpower, by 1938, the King George VI Dock was complete. Applauded as one of the largest naval docks ever built, the dock was capable of holding the biggest ship in the world at the time.
War Reaches Singapore
By December 1941, war came up to Singapore’s shores. Japanese forces swept down from Malaya, and Sembawang Naval Base came under heavy attack. As the British prepared to surrender on 15 February 1942, they decided to destroy key parts of the naval base, hoping to deny its use to the enemy. Nonetheless, the Japanese navy repaired the damage and used Sembawang as a base throughout the occupation.
Later in the war, Allied Forces bombed the base, causing more destruction. After Japan’s surrender in 1945, the British returned and began repairing Sembawang Naval Base. By 1951, it was fully operational again.
By the 1970s, times had changed. Singapore was forging its own path as an independent nation, and the British military scaled back its presence. Slowly, Sembawang transitioned from a military hub into something new.
Sembawang Today: From Warships to HDBs
Extensive land reclamation changed the landscape. Sembawang, once surrounded by vegetable farms, rubber plantations, and Chinese graveyards, evolved into a modern residential town. In the 1990s, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) developed Sembawang New Town. By 2004, the area had transformed into a thriving neighborhood with HDB flats across Sembawang, Canberra, and Gambas.
Fun Fact: Many of Sembawang’s roads today—like Wellington, Canberra, and Gibraltar—are named after Royal Navy ships, dockyards, admirals, and places from that era.
The opening of the Sembawang MRT station in 1996 marked a new chapter. Back then, the station was pretty much in the middle of nowhere—just Canberra Road and some developing estates! But by 1998, the town’s growth had accelerated dramatically, as did the rest of Singapore under the rule of our late founding fathers such as Lee Kuan Yew.
Sungei Sembawang, the river that once flowed through the area, also changed. Its middle section was diverted in the 1920s to make room for the naval base. By the 1990s, much of the river’s southern portions, which had mangroves and ponds, were filled in to make way for Sembawang New Town.
A Nod to our History
Despite all the changes, Sembawang hasn’t forgotten its roots. One of Singapore’s last natural beaches, Wak Hassan Beach, still exists at Sembawang Park. And Sembawang Wharves remains a major port, handling cargo like timber and rubber—a reminder of its maritime past.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s coverage on Sembawang! This is also an enriching post for myself, as I grew up near the north of Singapore 🙂 Regarding Monsoon Voyage, new data sets have been uploaded! Some of you may have noticed slower increase in the progress bar. This is due to the percentage being calculated based on the combined number of images in the project. Hence, subsequent increments will be slower. But we do see, acknowledge, and are grateful for all your efforts nonetheless!
Leave a Reply