Central Region, Singapore facts for kids

The Central Region of Singapore is a very important part of Singapore. It's often called the heart of the city! This area is where you'll find many tall office buildings and busy shops. It's also home to the Istana, which is where Singapore's President works and lives.

A Look Back in Time

The story of the Central Region began a long time ago, in 1819. That's when Sir Stamford Raffles arrived in Singapore. He was from the British East India Company. Sir Stamford Raffles wanted to set up a trading port here.

He made an agreement with the local leaders, Tengku Abdul Rahman (who was the Sultan) and Tengku Hussein (who was a high-ranking chief). They agreed to let the British build a port. In return, the Sultan and the chief received money.

The British were given the southern part of Singapore to develop. This area soon became known as the Central Region. It was also called the Central Business District because it was the main place for business.

How Big is the Central Region?

The Central Region of Singapore covers a large area. It stretches from the harbour in the south all the way up to Bishan in the north. To the west, it reaches Queenstown, and to the east, it extends to Marine Parade.

In total, this important region covers about 13,150 hectares of land. That's a lot of space! The beautiful Southern Islands are also considered part of the Central Region.

Planning Areas in the Central Region

The Central Region is made up of 11 smaller areas. These are called "planning areas." They help to organize the city's development. Here are the 11 planning areas:

• Bishan
• Bukit Merah
• Bukit Timah
• Geylang
• Kallang
• Marine Parade
• Novena
• Queenstown
• Southern Islands
• Tanglin
• Toa Payoh

Images for kids

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  An ever-changing model at the URA Gallery shows how the Central Region might look in the future.