The Fullerton Singapore
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The Fullerton Hotel Singapore (Chinese: 浮尔顿酒店) is a five-star luxury hotel located in Downtown Core, Singapore. It has 400 rooms including 21 suites and was built in 1928 as Fullerton Building which housed the General Post Office.
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[edit] The Fullerton Building
Built between 1924 and 1928, the Fullerton Building was named after Robert Fullerton, the first Governor of the Straits Settlements, and was opened on 27 June 1928. Its first tenants included the General Post Office, the Singapore Club and several government departments.
The General Post Office, which occupied three floors, had a 300-foot curved counter that was reputed to be the longest in the world at that time. High glass-plated windows set in steel frames let in plenty of fresh air and sunlight. One of the most interesting features of the post office is the subway that was constructed underneath Fullerton Road to connect the post office to the pier. This greatly facilitated the transporting of mail to and from ships and the post office.
The exclusive Singapore Club used the upper floors of the building. The space was used for dining rooms, lounges, billiard and card rooms and accommodation facilities. Above the parapet was an attic which the club converted into simple bedrooms. During the Japanese Occupation, Governor Sir Shenton Thomas and Lady Thomas sought refuge in these sleeping quarters. It was here that General Percival discussed with Sir Shenton the possibility of surrendering Singapore to the Japanese.
The site on which the Fullerton Building stands has always been historic. The earliest fortifications, government buildings and godowns were built there. Fort Fullerton was erected on the present Fullerton Square in 1829 to defend Singapore against potential attacks by enemy warships but was torn down in 1873.
Plans to erect Fullerton Building were put together in 1920. Due to a lack of funds, however, construction only began in 1924. Completed in 1928, Fullerton Building dominated the coastal skyline of 1930s Singapore and was the first structure that boats sailing into the pier would see. The massive building had five distinct frontages, with trophy designs at the main entrances and the royal coat-of-arms on the portico, created by Rudolpho Nolli, best known for the Allegory of Justice which graces the Supreme Court pediment.
Capitalising on Fullerton Building's seafront location, a revolving beacon of 540 kilocandela was mounted on the roof of the building in 1958. Called the Fullerton Light, it was installed to replace the Fort Canning lighthouse which was being demolished. The Fullerton Light was very effective; ships could see its powerful beam up to 18 nautical miles away.
The General Post Office has since vacated Fullerton Building. In the 1970s to 1995, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore used the building as its headquarters. 1995 saw the building close for upgrading and restoration and the building reopened in 2001 as an elegant five-star hotel managed by Sino Land which is based in Hong Kong. It was totally refurbished on the inside but its original exterior has been preserved.
[edit] The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore has 400 rooms and suites which either overlook the atrium courtyard, or face downtown Singapore's skyline, the Singapore River promenade or the Marina Bay. The hotel's 199-square metre Presidential Suite even has its own elevator, and a glass-enclosed veranda.
Designed with the business and leisure traveller in mind, The Fullerton Hotel has a 24-hour financial centre with the Bloomberg Professional service that provides financial reports and world news, and 15 meeting rooms equipped with conference facilities.
The hotel has a 25-metre outdoor infinity swimming pool, fitness centre and a luxury spa. The hotel has five food and beverage outlets, which include Jade, a restaurant serving modern Chinese cuisine; Town Restaurant, an all-day international dining restaurant; The Courtyard, which offers afternoon tea and lunch choices at the hotel's atrium; San Marco at The Lighthouse serving modern Italian cuisine on the top floor of the hotel; and the stylish Post Bar which serves a wide range of signature cocktails and wine. Ballroom and conference facilities are located at the basement.
The Fullerton Hotel has won major travel and architectural awards such as the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List award and the Architectural Heritage Award from Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority.
Across from the hotel and built as part of the hotel restoration project is One Fullerton, a low-rise commercial dining and entertainment complex fronting Marina Bay and forming the backdrop for the Merlion Park. Also built by Far East Organisation, it is linked to the hotel via a pedestrian underpass under Fullerton Road.
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[edit] References
- National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4068-23-3
- Aun Koh, Susan Leong (2006), Singapore chic, Archipelago Press, ISBN 981-4155-74-8
