This photograph is part of a series which depicts the sights and scenes of 19th and 20th century Singapore.Established in 1887 by the Sarkies brothers, the current main building of the hotel was opened on 18 November 1899 and built in a French Renaissance style. During the Japanese Occupation, it was used by the Japanese Imperial Army Headquarters for the Transport and Supplies section. It was also used to room and entertain senior Japanese military officers. The hotel reopened in 1946 and slowly went into decline. It underwent major renovation in 1989 and re-opened in 1991 as a boutique hotel.
