Located along Hendon Road next to the Hendon Commando Camp, is a row of nine colonial styled former military administrative buildings constructed between 1930 – 1936.
These three-storey buildings with large overhanging clay tile roofs for protection against the tropical weather are in fact similar in design to the other military buildings in Singapore such as those found on Sentosa and Wessex Estate.
The blocks of 35, 36 and 42, in particular, played important roles in the colonial history of Changi.
Blocks 35 & 36 were the Headquarters for the Far East Air Force after World War II, who played pivotal roles during the Malayan Emergency Years, while block 42 served as the post-war headquarters of the Royal Engineers, who contributed to the development of Changi through tasks like clearing the land and identifying artillery gun positions.
It was however the overgrown and unnamed Block 49 that I managed to explore a little bit more on my trip there, a building that even in the day, makes you think twice about stepping into a dark and worn down room all by yourself.
All nine buildings have been vacated since the 1990s, and only recently were given approval by the SLA to be refurbished into swanky new hotels such as the case of the Old Command HQ being converted into the newly opened Changi Cove.
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That looks really effective! I’d never have thought of doing something like that.