Talbot Bunker: Exploring a hidden magazine storage in Woodlands

4 June 2022

I had always been curious about a magazine storage in the north of Singapore, and after doing a bit of research, I made plans to head down to explore. The bunker had a long flooded corridor leading to a huge area used to store magazine. It was first opened to the public in 2015 as part of a tour organised by National Heritage Board. Little did I know it was no longer easy to access the bunker due to the increased security in the area. We had to adapt and devise alternative routes in, after meeting with obstacles one after another. Honestly, my friend was going to give up after the initial failed attempt, but I was stubborn and refused to give up. I guess it paid off.

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History

Hidden in the north of Singapore lies a 1942 British bunker where explosives were stored. Back then, carts on a railway track would send ammunition into the underground bomb-proof facility. The bunker is the last of six others that used to dot Talbot's Hill in Woodlands. It is nestled in a dense forest that comes with a clear coastal view of Johor Bahru in Malaysia. The ammunition supported the British Naval Base's operations nearby. The historic site was later used by the Japanese to store their own ammunition which included anti-aircraft weapons and rifles.

Adapted from: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/secret-british-bunker-in-woodlands-will-be-open-to-public-for-first-time-in-70-years

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Exploring Talbot Bunker

1300	Search for the Talbot Bunker
1345	Enter the flooded bunker
1400	Leave the bunker

1300 | Search for the Talbot Bunker

One fine morning, we travelled all the way out to the far north of Singapore, passing through an industrial area. Just as we were searching for an entrance towards the shore, we spotted a security guard cycling towards us and telling at us to turn back (not sure if he knew we were searching for the bunker). The security guard watched as we turned around, and finally left when he was sure we headed back. The original route didn't go as planned and I was definitely disheartened. But I was also very stubborn, so I analysed the map to find another entrance. We embarked on a plan B to cut through a construction area towards the bunker, but this too was met with another dead end.

My friend was ready to give up at this point, but we had already came this far and I wanted to give it another shot. I devised a plan C (this location was definitely testing my patience and adaptability) and we headed downhill from a nearby dormitory towards the edge of the shore. The shore had high fences and coils of barbed wires, so we had to be extra careful not to get too close. I guess this was to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing over, but I did see a few holes in the fence which looked like someone had tried to break in hmm... We traced the fence in the direction of the bunker. We made good progress and everything seemed to be going well until we spotted a camera up ahead. Not too sure if this camera is functioning but we didn't want to take the risk, so we cut into the dense forest in a bid to create our own path. It was disorienting as we circled the forest for quite awhile, crossing a few drains. I found that the location pin I was referencing was not very accurate. Having to now rely on our instincts, we tried to push further into the forest and finally saw a small trail that lead to the entrance of the bunker.

1345 | Enter the flooded bunker

I was elated at this point, all the hard work and persistence finally paid off. Compared to the reference photos from 2015, the entrance was a lot more overgrown and flooded. One of the doors of the entrance seemed to also have completely broken off. We didn't waste any time and quickly put on our boots to start the exploration. The water was murky brown and came up to around my mid calf. We wadded through the long flooded corridor and went deep into the bunker, until we reached a side entrance. The entrance had a small chair at the side (perhaps for whoever that used to guard the space) and was elevated so the path in was dry.

I walked into the pitch black room and it was only when I shone my torch across the room did I get a scale of the space. It was a huge space with a high corrugated ceiling - we have reached the main magazine storage area. There was a huge metal frame at the far end of the wall which I later learned functioned as a ventilation shaft. There was also a steel crane on the ceiling used to lift the ammunition to be delivered out. Somehow I felt that the vastness of the space together with the metal frame drew some visual similarities to a church.

1400 | Leave the bunker

We followed the same flooded corridor out of the bunker and back through the forested path. We wanted to leave the area as quickly as possible to avoid arousing any attention. The rest of the day was spent enjoying the sea view from Woodlands waterfront.

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My Thoughts

The day's exploration was definitely and unexpectedly wrought with endless challenges, one after the next. But this also made it especially fulfilling to have finally explored the Talbot bunker. Unfortunately, there are unlikely to be tours to the bunker in the future, given its increasingly depilated state. The experience also taught be to be persistent and adaptable in any given situation, there is just so much you can plan and anticipate. Also, I guess stubbornness pays off!