Several prominent landmarks are situated at the mouth of the Singapore River. Straddling the mouth of the Singapore River, Anderson Bridge (centre) was completed in 1910 as a replacement for Cavenagh Bridge, which is situated further upriver. The bridge was named after Sir John Anderson, Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States (1904-1911). Made of steel, the bridge was designed to withstand the loads of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.Sitting on the site where Fort Fullerton once guarded the mouth of the Singapore River, the Fullerton Building (right background) housed the General Post Office and other government offices during the early half of the 20th century. The building job had been awarded to Perry & Co. Overseas Ltd, London, in 1924. The building, which featured neo-classical architectural style, was officially opened by then Governor Sir Hugh Clifford in 1928.Singapore’s first National Day on 9th August 1966 was marked by week-long celebrations that began with a big parade and march-past at the Padang (Malay for ‘flat field’), located in the old civic district of the city centre. The parade contingent consisted of 23,000 participants who marched from Chinatown to Tanjong Pagar. The National Day Parade has since become an annual affair and the Padang remains one of several venues used to host the event in different years.
