Raffles

Raffles - the original
Artist: 
Thomas Woolner
Text of label: 

This tablet to the memory of Sir Stamford Raffles to whose foresight and genius Singapore owes its existence and prosperity was unveiled on February 6th 1919, the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Settlement.

Patron: 
the government of the Straits Settlements
entry: 

As part of the celebrations for the 50th Anniversary of the Queen Victoria's Accession, a contest was held for the best inscription to go with the statue. The top prize of $25 went to Lim Koon Tye, an alumnus of Raffles Institution.

The statue was surrounded by a semicircular colonnade (in the Italian Renaissance style) which was destroyed after the fall of Singapore in early 1942. The statue was moved to the National Museum where it stayed until liberation. (This all from Edwards and Keyes).

Location Notes: 

Was originally unveiled on the Padang in 1887 by Sir Frederick A Weld (on the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria's accession). Moved to its present position and unveiled by Sir Arthur Young, Governor, on 6 February, 1919.

First Placed in Singapore: 
1883
Current Location: 
in front of Victoria Concert Hall and Victoria Theatre