60 years of Our Singapore Housing

When Singapore gained independence in 1965, HDB has already built more than 50,000 flats which exceeded their target plan by a few months when they drew up the First Five-Year Plan back in 1960. In the same year, there was an extension of Macpherson Estate where high-rise flats located at Circuit Road and Balam Road were being built. It was the biggest housing estate on the eastern side of Singapore of that time with more than 10,000 units being built and housing an approximate population of 65,000 people. Balam Road 10-storey flats under construction, 1964 Soon to be completed Macpherson Estate, 1964 Applicants waiting to get their flats being balloted in a balloting ceremony, 1965 The tallest 16-storey flats in Macpherson at Blk 35 and 36 Circuit Road, 1965 A children's playground in front of a block of flats Roadside hawkers congregating in a busy street along Merpati Road, 1965 Completed flats in Macpherson Estate, 1965 To look at the old...

The design of flats built during the first Five-Year Plan(1960-65) were simple and functional in order to build as many homes for a growing population that resulted from a baby boom with more than 50,000 babies born each year. These flats were fitted with basic amenities like piped water and electricity. Most of the flats were built in slab blocks with the units accessible by a common corridor with more than 10 units on each level of the block.

Macpherson is the one of the oldest HDB Estates located in the East. The earliest flats are located at Merpati Road which were built in 1961. Most of these flats are 1-room and 2-room with rents costing $20 and $40 respectively. Currently, only the flats located at Block 12-14 are existing. Merpati Road flats under construction The newly completed 3 blocks of 2-room 10 storey flats  2-storey shophouses 3-storey blocks of 1-room flats A typical 1960s children's playground on the left To know more about the development of Macpherson Estate, click  here