Old Admiralty House - History

History

The Old Admiralty House was constructed in 1939, and was used by the British Armed Forces for strategic planning during World War II. It was then named Canberra House, and was also the residence of the Flag Officer of the Malayan Area.

After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, the building was renamed Nelson House and became the residence of the Commodore Superintendent of the Royal Navy Dockyard who, with the help of 200 Japanese prisoners of war, built the estate's first swimming pool.

In 1958, the building was renamed Admiralty House, and became the residence of the British Royal Navy Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station. The building was renamed again to Anzuk House in 1971.

After the British forces left Singapore in 1975, Sembawang Shipyard inherited the building and used it as a recreation club. In 1991, the building was renovated to become Yishun Country Club. The Karimun Admiralty Country Club then took over the building with a change in tenant in 2001.

In 2002, the building became known as Old Admiralty House, and was gazetted as a national monument on 2 December.

In February 2007, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) put up the Old Admiralty House for public tender — the first time for a national monument — after Karimun Admiralty Country Club vacated the premises in January. Based on guidelines set by SLA, bidders could use the site — leasing at S$34,600 a month — for sports, recreation, beauty and health centres, restaurants or adventure campsites, although SLA would consider other suggestions for approval. However, the new tenants would have to comply to strict preservation guidelines outlined by SLA and the Preservation of Monuments Board to restore and retain the aesthetics of the Old Admiralty House.

On 8 May 2007, SLA announced that the Old Admiralty House was successfully tendered out to YESS Group Pte Ltd. When the tender closed in February, the property attracted keen interest from clubhouse operators and recreational club owners, some in F&B, spa, and lifestyle sectors. YESS Group Pte Ltd was selected for its creative proposal and highest bid at S$40,000, more than S$5,000 above the guide rent.

YESS Group has plans to transform the preserved monument into a multi-purpose club with sports, adventure, leisure and entertainment activities that are family-oriented. It will have adventure camps and clubhouse facilities, golf driving range, swimming pools and theme restaurants. The club will organise adventure activities and school-related CCAs like rock climbing, archery, tennis, rollerblading, golf, fencing lessons. The cost of investment by YESS Group is estimated to be S$5 million.

The project, however, failed to take off, and the property was returned to the Singapore Land Authority.

A renewed tender was called on 22 March 2011, won by FIS Institute, a boarding school specialising in preparatory education for students who intend to pursue 'A' Level and 'O' Level Examinations. The school converted the building into its administration building, a nerve centre to run the surrounding academic and hostel buildings.

In order to do justice to this beautiful building, FIS Institute works very closely with the Preservation Monument Board in restoring the building to its former glory; all of it privately funded by the school without subsidy from the government.