Club Street
Club Street is a short street in the Singapore Chinatown. It is located between Cross Street and Ann Siang Hill. Today its shophouses have been converted into bars, restaurants and galleries. Club Street is also located close to China Square Central and Far East Square, two places with restaurants and other eateries and shops.
Club Street got its name because a lot of social clubs patronized by the Straits Chinese were located there. The most elitist of these clubs was the Chinese Weekly Entertainment Club, which is exclusively for the English-speaking Straits Chinese. It held the grandest balls and other social events. The first Chinese to receive a knighthood was Sir Song Ong Siang, a member of the club. According to him, on the 5th anniversary of the Chinese Weekly Entertainment Club, a fancy-dress party was held. The affluent members of the club came dressed as European royalties and sultans.
In addition to the snotty elitist clubs, Chinese trade guilds also occupied Club Street. Unlike clan associations, the trade guilds do not differentiate among kinship, but welcome all according to their trades. Carpenters, barbers, stonemasons, all belong to their respective guilds.
Also located at Club Street were pondok, as the communal houses of the Indonesian Malays were called. The Pondok Peranakan Gelam, now at Hong Lim Green, is the sole survivor of these communal homes. It was originally located at 64 Club Street, and operated on a system of social hierarchy with married couples occupying the upper floor while children and singles living downstairs.
Getting there
The nearest MRT stations are the Tanjong Pagar Station (EW15).
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Club Street (8 July 2006)
© Timothy Tye
Location Map of Club Street
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