Hill Street (Chinese: 禧街) is a street in the downtown of Singapore starting from Eu Tong Sen Street and ending at Stamford Road, where the road becomes Victoria Street. The road starts after Coleman Bridge and at the junction of River Valley Road, North Boat Quay, Eu Tong Sen Street and New Bridge Road.
Built shortly after Stamford Raffles founded the trading post in Singapore, the character of the name comes from the fact as it was located at the foot of Government Hill (now the Fort Canning). Hill Street is home to several landmarks including the Armenian Church, Central Fire Station, Old Hill Street Police Station and the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce. The Old Hill Street Police Station is now home to the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts.
Hill Street was formerly home to a hawker centre which was built in 1984, and government offices until the building was demolished in 2002.
The Chinese gave the street two names, one of which was ong kes swa kha or "foot of Government Hill" where the Governor's residence was located on the Government Hill. The other name was tiau kio thau or "at the end of the suspension bridge".
Famous quotes containing the words hill and/or street:
“I remember the scenes of battle in which we stood together. I remember especially that broad and deep grave at the foot of the Resaca hill where we left those gallant comrades who fell in that desperate charge. I remember, through it all, the gallantry, devotion and steadfastness, the high-set patriotism you always exhibited.”
—Benjamin Harrison (1833–1901)
“And men left down their work and came,
And women with petticoats coloured like flame.
And little bare feet that were blue with cold,
Went dancing back to the age of gold,
And all the world went gay, went gay,
For half an hour in the street to-day.”
—“Seumas” “O’Sullivan” (1879–1958)