From a Big Swamp to a New Town

Toa Payoh is the second satellite town built by HDB after Queenstown during the Second Five-Year Plan(1965-1970). It was also known as "the big swamp" as "Toa" is a Hokkien word for big while "Payoh" is a Malay word for swamp. It used to be a squatter district with a prominent agricultural heritage in the area before it was redeveloped in 1964. By 1966, the first flats were built in the Lorong 5 and Lorong 6 neighbourhood.
Block 51 and 52 are the earliest flats built in Toa Payoh in 1966
Other new flats in Lorong 5 Toa Payoh

The new 1-room Improved flats, 1966

The then-Minister for National Development, Mr E W Barker officiating at a balloting ceremony at the first blocks of Toa Payoh, 1966


An aerial view of Toa Payoh New Town in colour, 1966 

More new flats coming up!!!
To look at the development of Toa Payoh New Town, click here

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