Officially opened in 1892 by the Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Cecil Clementi Smith, the Tyersall estate was built under the direction of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor to serve as his Singapore residence. No expenses were spared in the construction of the luxurious, palatial residence, which was located in the Tanglin area behind the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Designed to serve as a venue for the Sultan to entertain the upper crust of colonial society, it came complete with a reception hall, dining area and ballroom. His successor, Sultan Ibrahim, continued to use the residence although part of it was burned down after a fire in 1905 that was caused by faulty electrical wiring.
