Initially named Town Hall when the original structure was completed in 1862, it was used to house administrative offices as well as being a venue for public meetings and theatrical performances. It underwent its first major renovation in the early 1900s and was renamed as Victoria Memorial Hall in 1905 to commemorate the passing of Queen Victoria in 1901. However, it was only in 1906 that the renovation works were fully completed with the addition of a new clock tower. In 1919, the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of Singapore, was moved from the Padang to the front of the building as part of the colony’s centennial celebrations. Further refurbishments were carried out in the 1950s and subsequently in 1979, following which it was renamed the Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. The structure was gazetted as a national monument in 1992 and continues to serve as a venue for theatrical performances.
