ISTANA'S HISTORY

        This exquisite work of fine art was built and designed by Major John Frederick Adolphus  McNair during the time of Governor Sir Henry St George Ord. It was completed in 1869 by Indian convict labour from Bencoolen, Sumatra; and was known as Government House. The Indian convicts were possibly the same ones that constructed the St. Andrew's Cathedral. Before this beautiful building was constructed, the Istana used to be situated at Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill) - now named Fort Canning. It was just another wooden house with a thatched roof and it only cost the East India Company S$916. The early residents of Singapore would look up the hill in the morning to see if the house was still there for it looked so light that it could be blown away by a storm! Later, G. D Coleman, the first architect of Singapore, extended the house and re-designed it in a Neo classical style. The house was demolished in 1859.

        In 1867,the Straits Settlement was transferred from the India office to the Colonial Office. The first Governor under the new constitution, Sir Harry Ord, temporarily occupied " Pavilion " ,a residence leased to the Government by Dr Oxley. Later, the Governor occupied Leonie House, also Dr Oxley’s property. Governor Ord eventually ordered that land be purchased for a proper Government House. The colonial government then bought 100 acres of land belonging to Charles Princep's nutmeg plantation.

        LONG BEFORE YOUR TIME...

       An initial sum of S$100 000 was approved by the Legislative Council in July 1867 based on the first plan by Maj. McNair. However, a plan for a larger building was subsequently approved. But Maj. McNair made the mistake of not providing an estimate for the larger building, thus, resulting in insufficient funds. Fortunately, about this time, it became known that the Duke of Edinburgh, the second son Queen Victoria, would be visiting Singapore. Maj. McNair  then seized the opportunity and cited amongst other reasons for an increase in budget that was necessary to get the building ready for the visit. The Government House eventually cost S$185 000 to build.

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