Remember those classic TV shows? Shows like Under One Roof and The Little Nyonya. Many iconic Singaporean shows were filmed right here at Caldecott Hill Estate.
Caldecott Hill Estate is more than just a location. It is a place filled with memories and history. This estate was once the heart of Singapore’s media industry. It is located along Thomson Road.
But the history of Caldecott Hill Estate goes back even further. Before television, before radio, there was just a hill. The hill got its name from Sir Andrew Caldecott. He was a respected British colonial administrator. He served in British Malaya for many years. The roads here are named after his family. There is Olive Road for his wife and Joan Road and John Road for his children.
Before development, this area was marshland. In the 1840s, John Turnbull Thomson arrived. He was a government surveyor. Thomson built the first maps of Singapore. He also engineered Thomson Road. These roads opened up the area for development.
Seah Eu Chin was a wealthy businessman. He was known as the “king of pepper and gambier”. His family owned much of the land in the Caldecott area. They built two large bungalows. One of them was called E Choon. They even hosted a grand ball there for Europeans and Chinese guests.
In 1937, Caldecott Hill Estate became a modern housing estate. It had electricity, piped water and modern sanitation. This was a novelty at the time. Many houses still used the night bucket system.
Singapore’s first radio broadcasting station opened here in 1937. Sir Shenton Thomas described the studios. They were soundproof and air-conditioned. The government created the Malaya Broadcasting Corporation.
During World War II, the battle lines stopped at Caldecott Hill Estate. The broadcasting station survived and the Japanese used it.
After the war, only 41 houses remained. But Caldecott Hill Estate became a premier residential area. In 1966, Radio Television Singapore opened its new Television Studio Centre here.
Mediacorp operated from Caldecott Hill until 2015. Then, they moved to a new campus. In 2020, the land was sold to Kuok Khoon Hong.
Today, Caldecott Hill Estate is a private housing area. It is known as the Beverly Hills of Singapore. Families enjoy the lush greenery around the forest reserve and MacRitchie Reservoir. Caldecott MRT station is nearby.
Caldecott Hill Estate offers a luxurious landed living experience. It is a place with a rich history and a bright future. It is a reminder of Singapore’s past and its continued growth. As you wander through this estate, remember the stories. Remember the people who shaped Singapore’s media landscape. Caldecott Hill Estate is a place where history and modernity meet.