Does the name Kopi Sua pique your curiosity? It should. Kopi Sua is not just a place. It is a story etched in the hills of Singapore. It is also known as Mount Pleasant Cemetery or Coffee Hill Cemetery.
The story of Kopi Sua begins with George Henry Brown. He was a British merchant who arrived in Singapore in the 1840s. Brown purchased a large plot of hilly land. The locals translated Brown’s Hill into Bukit Brown in Malay. Bukit means hill.
Interestingly Kopi Sua is another local name. Some say there was no Hokkien word for Brown. So Kopi meaning coffee was used instead. Another story says Brown tried to grow coffee here. He was unsuccessful.
Kopi Sua became a part of Bukit Brown Cemetery. It was once a single entity. But it was separated when the government exhumed graves. This was in 1993. The Pan Island Expressway was widened.
Bukit Brown Cemetery is named after George Henry Brown. He started a shipping business in 1840. He bought about 200 acres of rolling hills. Sua means hill in Hokkien.
After Brown’s death, the land changed hands. It went to Mootapa Chitty and Lim Chu Yi. Later in 1872, three clansmen from the Ong clan bought it. Each paid $500. They donated the land to the Hokkien Clan Association. It was for dwelling, farming, and burials. It was called Seh Ong Sua.
In 1918 and 1919, the government bought a part of the Ong burial site. This was to be used as a Chinese Municipal Cemetery. It was opened to all Chinese. It became a public cemetery. This was known as Bukit Brown Cemetery in 1923.
Kopi Sua refers to the area near Mount Pleasant Road where Brown lived. Brown originally named it Brown’s Hill. The Bukit Brown Cemetery includes 50 acres known as Lau Sua. Lau Sua or Old Hill was opened by the Hokkien Huay Kuan. It was a cemetery in 1892. Bukit Brown Municipal Cemetery stopped operations in 1973.
Even though Mount Pleasant Cemetery is the same as Bukit Brown Cemetery it has fewer visitors. It is less maintained. It has a pathway leading inside. Paranormal groups visit it. They have reported sightings of the Pontianak. The Pontianak is a vengeful female spirit. It originates from women who died during childbirth. But sightings of the Pontianak are disputed. Some say they are just monkeys.
In November 2021, a part of Mount Pleasant Cemetery was planned for redevelopment. This was by the Housing and Development Board. It would create the new Mount Pleasant planning area. An access road was planned to cut through the cemetery. The road was adjusted. It was built elsewhere. The Mount Pleasant Cemetery was unaffected.
Kopi Sua stands as a testament to Singapore’s past. It whispers stories of early settlers. It also echoes with the memories of a bustling community. It is a place where nature and history intertwine. It offers a unique glimpse into Singapore’s multi-layered heritage. Take a moment to appreciate the quiet beauty of Kopi Sua. Reflect on the stories it holds.