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The Singapore government has announced plans to gazette the bungalow at 38 Oxley Road, the former home of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, as a national monument. Built in 1898, the house was deemed of great historic value by the National Heritage Board and Singapore Land Authority for its role during the 1950s when Singapore was transitioning from a colony to an independent nation. Although Lee's will requested its demolition, the government stated it would preserve the site respectfully, removing all traces of private living areas if it becomes a public heritage space.
The Singapore government has confirmed that it plans to designate the site of Lee Kuan Yew's long-time residence at 38 Oxley Road as a national monument. The National Heritage Board (NHB) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said the property, a single-storey bungalow built in 1898, was assessed by an advisory board as having significant national and historical importance. The assessment found that the home 'bore witness to pivotal events in the 1950s that marked Singapore's transition from a colony to an independent nation.' Advertisement
According to the statement, the site may be converted into a public heritage space-such as a park or commemorative site if it is preserved and acquired. Officials also noted that the decision to preserve the site does not mean that all structures will be kept unchanged, as multiple options remain open for consideration. The government added that, whatever the final outcome, it would respect Lee Kuan Yew's wishes by removing any traces of his and his family's private living spaces before the site is opened to the public.
Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away in 2015, had clearly stated his preference for the house to be demolished after his death. He included this request in his will and mentioned that if demolition could not take place, the home should remain closed to all except family members and descendants. He had earlier told The Straits Times in 2011 that he wanted the bungalow demolished because he believed it would 'become a shambles' if opened to the public and that removing it could improve property values in the neighbourhood.
The future of the house has long been at the centre of a public disagreement among Lee's three children. His eldest son, Lee Hsien Loong who served as Singapore's prime minister until stepping down last year said the decision should be left to the government, including the option to retain the property as a heritage landmark. His siblings, Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang, opposed this view and maintained that the house should be demolished in accordance with their father's wishes. After Lee Wei Ling's passing last year, Lee Hsien Yang submitted an application seeking permission to demolish the house.
A ministerial committee formed in 2018 had previously reviewed the matter and concluded there was no immediate need to decide on the property's fate while Lee Wei Ling was still residing there. That committee also evaluated several possibilities, such as complete demolition, partial conservation of historically significant spaces like the dining room, or preservation as a national monument. The final decision was left for a later government to determine.
Legal observers have noted that under the Preservation of Monuments Act, the Singapore government retains the authority to safeguard properties considered of historic significance, even if the owner's will specifies otherwise. The current proposal to gazette the site as a national monument is now open for feedback, allowing the property's owner to submit objections before a final preservation order is issued.
Source Reuters
5th Jun, 2025
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