Postcard depicting Central Fire Station in celebration of 100 Years of Service

This postcard shows Singapore's oldest fire station, Central Fire Station. First built in 1890 at Cross Street, this facility was soon replaced by a new station situated at Hill Street, whose main structure was completed at a cost of $64,000, in 1909. Constructed using red bricks specially imported from Britain, the building has a distinct red-and-white facade in a style commonly referred to as ‘blood and bandages’. The structure also has a watchtower that served as a lookout point for detecting fires prior to the introduction of fire alarms in 1915. Gazetted as a national monument on 18 December 1998, the station is still in operation today although part of it has been converted into the Civil Defence Heritage Gallery.