14 March 2021
Just close by the lively neighbourhood of Queenstown, and a short walk into an unassuming forested area sandwiched between HDB blocks, lies 3 hidden bunkers. The most iconic would be the first of the 3 bunkers, which has entirely lost its roof and overgrown with tree roots. The sight somehow reminds me of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
History
The Kay Siang Bunkers have been hidden in the small forested area between Kay Siang Road and Margaret Road for decades. Probably built in the 1940s by the British as storage places for ammunition and other supplies, there are a total of three bunkers, designed with double doors for reinforced protection against impacts and bombings. These bunkers might be supporting facilities for the nearby Buller Camp at Alexandra Road, a former British military camp in this vicinity.
In the early fifties, Buller Camp, along with the villages, farms, cemeteries and swamps in the vicinity, was demolished and cleared by the Singapore Improvement Trust (SIT) for the development of a new Queenstown housing estate. Margaret Drive was constructed as the main road for the new Princess Estate. Despite the development, the Kay Siang Bunkers remained undisturbed. Adapted from: https://remembersingapore.org/2021/03/10/kay-siang-road-bunkers/
Exploring Kay Siang Bunkers
1100 | Explore the first bunker |
1115 | Explore the second bunker |
1130 | Explore the third bunker |
1100 | Explore the first bunker
We walked past the lively neighbourhood of Queenstown with its newly built HDB blocks, crossing a children's playground towards Kay Siang Road. Along Kay Siang Road, we reached a small section of forested area, seemingly the only area untouched by the housing development, as if left forgotten by the changing times. Following a small trail into the forest, we soon spotted the first bunker. It was a huge bunker, completely missing a roof, and entirely taken over by tree roots. It seemed to be built right into a slope, with its side walls extended into the ground. We walked into the shell of a building, admiring how nature has made it its own.
1115 | Explore the second bunker
A short walk along the same trail led to a 2nd bunker. This bunker looked completely different from the first bunker. It was arch shaped and reinforced with double walls, and the only opening was a door that led into the interior. It was likely designed as such to withstand impact from bomb explosions. I walked into the pitch black darkness of the bunker, and the air within felt cooling and damp, a nice respite from the hot weather. Perhaps, this was because it was built into the ground.
1130 | Explore the third bunker
Nearby was the third and last bunker in the area. The main entrance was double walled and it was also missing a roof, but unlike the first 2 bunkers it had a few rooms within. After a short walk around the third bunker, we left the forest and back into the lively Queenstown neighbourhood. It was a pretty short yet fulfilling exploration.
My Thoughts
It was interesting how just a short walk into a small patch of forest lies old forgotten bunkers from the WWII. Hopefully, they can always be preserved and left unaffected by the development in the area.
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