Clifford Pier : A "Fight" Between Johnston And Clifford

5:18 PM  , , , , , ,  

Marina Bay & Singapore River
South, Singapore
May 2013

(This article is part of Merlion Wayfarer's Fullerton Heritage Guided Tour series.)
|   The Call Of The Red Lanterns   |  Signature Ward Elements   |   The Watchman Of The Waters   |

Measuring 240 feet long by 110 feet wide, Clifford Pier was built to replace Johnston's Pier (1854-1933) which was situated opposite Fullerton Square (Read "Fullerton Heritage - Fullerton Square").

Its Predecessor

 
Johnston's Pier was a jetty landing-platform for the convenient arrival and departure of sea travellers. It once stood opposite Fullerton Square, and Hong Kong Bank Building at Battery Road and Collyer Quay. Built by the Municipal Commissioners, construction started in early 1854 and was completed on 13 March 1856.

By the 1930s, the pier was worn out and the government decided to build a new one and name it after Sir Clifford. Clifford Pier is sited opposite Change Alley, slightly further along Collyer Quay from where Johnston's Pier stood.

Johnston's Pier in the 1800s...
(Source : RememberSingapore)

The crowded Johnston Pier's in 1930 before its replacement soon after...
(Source : RememberSingapore)

The Call Of The Red Lanterns

 
Built between 1927 and 1933, Clifford Pier was a landing point for immigrants and other sea passengers. A red lamp used to hang at the end of Johnston's Pier, warning ships as it entered the harbour. Thus Johnston's Pier was popularly known as "Red Lamp Pier" (红灯码头).  Old names die hard, so, "Ang Teng" (Hokkien) and "Lampu Merah" also became the names for Clifford Pier.

Locals affectionately know the Clifford Pier as the "Red Lamp Pier" because of the red oil lamps that used to hang from the pier to serve as directional and warning signs for incoming ships...
(Source : Flickr)

Johnston vs Clifford
   

(Source : Uncle Dicko)

Completed in 1933, Clifford Pier was named after Sir Hugh Clifford, Governor of the Straits Settlements between 1927 and 1929. Its opening on 03 June 1933 was boycotted by merchants because they wanted the old name, Johnston's Pier, reinstated.

  vs

Alexander Laurie Johnston was one of the earliest distinguished European residents who was in Singapore at about the same time as Sir Stamford Raffles. A friend of Raffles, Johnston was one of Singapore's first businessmen and one of the founding members of the Singapore Chamber of Commerce in 1837. He was a popular and well-respected citizen whose business was directly connected in those days with imports and exports to and from Europe. This meant that ships' captains called frequently on Johnston, who was well known for his kindness, wisdom and hospitality.


(Source : Book SG)

Sir Hugh Clifford, on the other hand, although a highly-regarded man, had no connection with the port of Singapore or its amenities other than the fact that he was the governor. His activities were largely occupied with his visits to the Malayan States, in particular Pahang, the scene of much of his earlier service.

(Source : Wikipedia)

AL Johnston can be seen settling a dispute between two traders along the banks of the Singapore River today...
(Source : MTECC)

A Carpark By Day

 
Clifford Pier was a busy landing and departure point since its opening. During the pre-air travel era, it served passengers commuting between ships anchored out at sea and the Singapore mainland.


Until the end of the 1960s, the area surrounding the entrance of Clifford Pier had a carpark to accommodate visitors. At night, the carpark was transformed into a hawker centre for outdoor dining and was popular with musicians, bankers and port workers who worked late.

     
 Ever Since Then
   


The pier was later used as a terminal for tourists and day trippers who boarded small sampans and ferries heading for the Southern Islands. During the annual pilgrimage season to Kusu Island, regular ferries departed from Clifford Pier to the island.


In 2004, plans were announced to replace Clifford Pier with a new two-storey pier at Marina South. This was part of redevelopment plans to build the Marina Bay area into an upmarket residential and commercial centre. Marina Bay, upon which Clifford Pier looks out to, was dammed to create a freshwater reservoir.


With that, Clifford Pier ceased operations on 01 April 2006, and was replaced by the Marina South Pier. After 73 years in operation, Clifford Pier would be conserved and redeveloped as part of upmarket Downtown Marina. 

The full album is available at:
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