Established as Singapore’s commercial/business centre in the 1820s, it was originally known as Commercial Square. It was renamed Raffles Place in 1858. The rectangular square in the middle of Raffles Place is known as Raffles Square. The original Government House was built on Fort Canning in 1822 by Sir Stamford Raffles which was later demolished. The Government House (now known as the Istana) featured on the postcard was built 1869 and designed by J.F.A. McNair. The building was renamed the Istana in 1959 and it became the official residence of the President. It was gazetted as a national monument in February 1992. North Bridge Road was one of the earliest roads built in Singapore and was constructed using convict labour.
