Empress-ive

The oldest performing arts venue in Singapore, Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall at Empress Place, was gazetted as a national monument in February 1992. Used for functions ranging from public events to musical performances, the now iconic building had to undergo a series of renovation works over the years, the most recent of which led to a reopening in 2014.

After Queen Victoria's passing in 1901, a resolution was passed at a public meeting to build a memorial hall next to the Town Hall, which was built at the site of the Old Hill Street Police Station in 1862. The Victoria Memorial Hall - costing S$340,000 - had its official opening in October 1905.

The building has played a major part in Singapore's history - it functioned as a hospital during World War II; was where Japanese war criminals were tried following their surrender; served as the site for the People's Action Party's inaugural meeting; and was also where Singapore's first television broadcasting service, Television Singapura, was launched.