This is a coloured postcard showing the palatial residence of Sultan Abu Bakar of Johor in early 20th century Singapore. The palace was located adjacent to the Botanic Gardens and boasted 67 acres of garden. The house and land originally belonged to William Napier, a prominent solicitor and one of the founders of the Singapore Free Press. He constructed it in 1827 and named it ‘Tyersall’. The colonial government then presented the residence as a gift to the Sultan of Johor in exchange for some lands that he owned facing the Tanjong Pagar docks. The Sultan had his palace (‘istana’) erected in place of Napier’s old house and expanded the gardens. It was called ‘New Tyersall’ to distinguish it from Napier’s previous residence. The palace was completed in 1892 but destroyed by a fire in 1905.
