How did South Bridge Road
obtain its name?
The road was built by convict
labour in 1833 and obtained its name from the Thomson Bridge (now known as the
Elgin Bridge).
The road stretches south from Elgin Bridge
to Maxwell Road/Tanjong Pagar Road/Neil Road. Being the "main street"
of Chinatown, many historic and important buildings have lined this stretch,
and, from the early times these included the Sri Marriaman Temple (1843), Jamae
Mosque (1830 - 1835), both now preserved monuments; the Central Police Station
once stood on today's Pidemco Centre, and the Criminal District and Police Courts
used to be on Hong Lim Green. Other new developments are Fook Hai Building
(1975), and the Housing and Development Board's Hong Lim Complex of shophouses
and high-rise apartments.
What else is it known as?
The Chinese call the road ta ma lo or "great horseway" as well as chat bok koi or "paint wood street". "Paint wood street" refers to where there is a police court and the river. The road is also known as gu chia chui tua be chia lo in Hokkien which means "big horse (carriage) road in Kreta Ayer". The Tamils refer to it as "kalapithi kadei sadakku" களப்பத்துக் கடை சடக்கு or Cawker's Shop Street.
