“The finest airport in the British Empire,” they called it. Today we stand before the Old Kallang Airport Terminal Building. It was once a beacon of progress and modernity. This is Singapore’s first purpose-built civil airport. It opened on June 12, 1937, in the Kallang Basin area.
Imagine this area bustling with activity. Passengers from all over the world arrived here. The Old Kallang Airport Terminal Building was designed by Frank Dorrington Ward. He was the Public Works Department’s chief architect. The building showcases early modernist British architecture. Its interiors feature Art Deco ornamentation. Look closely at the railings and columns.
The Kallang Basin area was once a mangrove swamp. Three hundred acres were reclaimed for the airport’s construction. This project led to the relocation of Malays. They lived in the area. They were resettled in a place known as Kampung Melayu.
In its early years, Kallang Airport was renowned for its superior facilities. Even Amelia Earhart, the famous aviator, admired it. She called the airport an aviation miracle of the East. The main terminal had a control tower. Side blocks with attached hangars completed the structure.
During World War II, the Japanese expanded the airport. They turned the grass landing into a concrete runway. It extended to 5,500 feet. Civil aviation traffic returned to Kallang Airport in 1949.
In 1951, British Overseas Airways Corporation Comet planes arrived. The Kallang airfield was extended. This accommodated the larger aircraft. Before the extension, Comets used the RAF Changi airfield.
Tragedy struck on March 13, 1954. A BOAC Constellation plane exploded upon landing. Two crew members and 31 passengers died. Pilot error was blamed. A public inquiry also cited the airport’s poor fire service.
Even with expansions, the Old Kallang Airport Terminal Building couldn’t handle increased air traffic. A new airport was planned at Paya Lebar. Kallang Airport ceased operations in 1955. The Singapore Youth Sports Council then occupied the building.
On March 18, 1956, a mass merdeka rally took place here. About 20,000 people gathered. Political figures spoke about freedom. A riot broke out. People attacked the police. They tried to enter the Old Kallang Airport Terminal Building. The incident affected Merdeka talks in London.
From 1960 to 2009, the People’s Association used the building as its headquarters. The Public Works Department also used part of it. From 1967 to 1972, the Central Manpower Base enlisted national servicemen here. In 1973, the National Stadium was built. It was built on the former airport’s runway area.
The Old Kallang Airport Terminal Building reopened in March 1994. Conservation works cost S$4.16 million. The green tinted windows were restored. The original main entrance facing Kallang Road was also restored. The airport’s emblem was reconstructed. It showed a lion against a coconut tree.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority gazetted the building for conservation in 2008. In 2011, the building hosted the Singapore Biennale. In 2012, it was featured in the exhibition Shadow Spaces. This exhibition was held at the Asian Civilisations Museum.
The Old Kallang Airport Terminal Building stands as a reminder. It reminds us of Singapore’s aviation history. It reminds us of Singapore’s progress. It was once the gateway to the world. It remains an architectural landmark.