neighbourhood origins

A little history

Geylang derived its name from the Geylang River, which was likely named after an Orang Laut tribe from the Riau Archipelago who settled along the river banks. Other sources say Geylang got its name from the Malay word "kilang", which means factory or "press-mill", refering to the many lemongrass processing plants in the area. 
More here.

Young men on a sampan along Geylang River. Photo credit National Archives of Singapore. Source Lee Kee Hwee. 

Geylang Road was the earliest main road linking the downtown area near the Singapore River to the northeastern part of Singapore. It had an electric tramline running along its length and terminates at a lemongrass processing factory, located where Geylang Serai Market is today.

Lemongrass, known as serai in Malay, were grown in many plantations in the area, hence Geylang Serai got its name from the lemongrass factory or kilang (which some say sounds like Geylang) serai in Malay. (source)

With the passage of time, lemongrass stalks were traded for shophouses that provided homes for the waves of new immigrants from China, who worked in Singapore’s city centre not too far away. The shops below these homes were small businesses that supported the population living in this part of Geylang, and clan associations were set up as well to help newcomers get used to life in Singapore. 

These shophouses, with some dating to the 1920s, still stand today, and MEIR and Afternaut are proud to be helping to repurpose these spaces for residents of Singapore today.

Past Events

‘Geylang Unfolded’ — Lighting a spark of growth in one of Singapore’s most historic and controversial neighbourhoods

Want to work together? Get in touch.

Dave Tan
Meir Collective
+65 6440 4111
enquiries@meir.sg

Dianne Goh
The Afternaut Group
+65 6993 1197
hello@theafternaut.com