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Statues of Sir Stamford Raffles
 The founder of modern Singapore has two statues to his memory. The original bronze cast by Thomas Woolner in 1887 was unveiled originally on the Padang on 27 June 1887 by the Governor, Sir Frederick Weld. In 1919 (Singapore Centenary Celebrations), this statue was removed to a site in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall and Theatre. After the occupation of Singapore in 1942, the Japanese placed it in the Museum, but it was reinstated in its present location in 1946. 1972 saw the unveiling of the present polymarble statue which was made from plaster casts from the original 1887 figure. The replica stands on North Boat Quay, behind Parliament House - at the site where Raffles is though to have landed on January 29, 1819.
 Empress place
Empress place was named as such by the Municipal Council in 1907 in commemoration of Queen Victoria and it may well be the oldest pedestrian space in Singapore. The first civic buildings were planned here in Raffle's day. Maxwell house, designed by Coleman, was a 2-storey house built for a merchant, one John Argyle Maxwell, in 1827. However, it was never occupied by him and it became a courthouse and lands office. Subsequently it was converted to government offices and additions were made in 1839 and 1847.
Yet another court house was built in 1865; this is now the core of the present Government Offices. In 1873-75 the old court house was extended towards the river and this is where the Supreme Court of the Colony held its sessions from 1875 until 1939 when the present Supreme court was built. Maxwell's original house became the Assembly House in 1954 after extensive renovations and reconstruction.
The decision to build a new Town Hall was made in 1954; the building was completed in 1862. The Memorial Hall and Tower were added in 1905 and extensive renovations were carried out from 1954 until 1979. Raffles' statue, now in front of the Victoria Memorial Hall and Theatre, as it is now called, was first erected on the Padang in 1887 but later removed to its present site in 1919. A 2nd statue, a copy of the first one, was erected at Raffles Landing Place in 1972.
St. Andrew's Cathedral
 This is the third building to be erected on this site. The original, elegant Palladian style Church of St Andrew was designed by G.D. Coleman and built in 1935-36. The second Church of St Andrew was designed by James Turnbull Thomson and built in 1842. It had a tower and spire but they were not architecturally very satisfactory and, as if in recognition of this fact, were twice struck by lightning, in 1845 and 1849. The whole building was condemned in 1852 and demolished in 1855.
The new building lacks the fine details of its early 13th century English prototype said to be the Netley Abbey in Hampshire, UK, due largely to the fact that it was built by Indian convicts, as were many buildings of the day. Nevertheless, Lieutenant-Colonel Ronald MacPherson's (Executive Engineer) design for the church (which was consecrated as a cathedral in 1870) has some good qualities and makes a prominent contribution to the Padang and Singapore's skyline.
MacPherson is remembered in the grey and red granite memorial monument surmounted by a Maltese cross in the grounds and by the stained glass window over the big west door. Jalan Klapa was renamed MacPherson Road in remembrance of his work.
The Right Reverend Daniel Wilson, Lord Bishop of Calcutta, laid the foundation stone on 4 March 1856, and the 1st service was held on 1 October 1861. The Right Reverend G.E.L. Cotton, who succeeded Daniel Wilson, had the honour of consecrating the Cathedral on 25 January 1862. In 1869, it was transferred from the jurisdiction of Calcutta to the Diocese of Labuan and Sarawak and, in 1870, Archdeacon John Alleyne Beckles consecrated it as the Cathedral Church of the United Dioces
The grounds of the Cathedral include some fine examples of Adenanthera pavonina (Saga tree).
St. Andrew's Cathedral is owned by the Synod of the Diocese of Singapore and was gazetted as a National Monument on 28 June 1973.
Supreme Court and City Hall
Frank Dorrington WArd was the Chief Architect of the Public Works Department when he designed this classical building with its monumental facade facing the Padang; it was to be the last classical building to be built in Singapore. The Supreme Court opened in 1939. The building consists of four blocks surrounding a central courtyard which houses the circular law library with its white dome and travertime columns supporting two balconies on two levels. The pediment sculpture (an allegory of justice) and the Corinthian columns were executed by Cavalieri Rodolfo Nolli, one of a group of Italian artists who had come to Bangkok in 1913 to build a new throne room for the King of Siam. He was a sculptor and contractor who carried out general building, pre-cast works, imitation stone, sculptures, artistic decorations, special plastering, and smooth and bush-hammered facing works. The site has been occupied in ture by Edward Boustead's house of 1823 (designed by Coleman), later remodelled to become the London Hotel. Subsequently, it became the Hotel de l'Esperance, then the Hotel de l'Europe. It was demolished in 1900 to be rebuilt as the Grand Hotel de l'Europe (or the Adis Building, after its owner). This latter building was fine and  delicate in architectural quality and commanded good views over the Padang from its verandah. Sadly, but inevitably, it gave way in 1936 to the present Court building. Dorrington Ward's original plans for the Padang area were interrupted by World War Two. They involved demolition of Parliament House, the Victoria Theatre and the Singapore Cricket Club, to make way for a grand government scheme. Neighbouring City Hall was the scene of Japanese surrender to Lord Louis Mountbatten in 1945.
RAFFLES HOTEL
 
One of the most famous hotels in the world, this Grand Old Lady of the East is fully restored to her former glory after an extensive $160 million restoration. Down the years, royalty, film stars, world leaders and famous authors have stayed at Raffles -- one of the last great 19th Century hotels. The refurbished complex includes a Shopping Arcade with 70 shops, a museum showing Raffles memorabilia and the Jubilee Hall, where musical performances are held regularly.
CHIJMES
 Located on Victoria Street is a prominent four-acre site with a unique blend of historical architecture and modern restoration. With its five neo-Gothic styled buildings, CHIJMES has an old world style that will charm visitors looking for something special in bustling Singapore. Among its buildings are a formal Gothic-styled chapel with beautiful stained-glass panels, and the restored Caldwell House, the oldest free-standing house in Singapore with a sunken forecourt, waterfalls, and fountains. CHIJMES offers an ambiance ideal for relaxing stroll through history and tradition.
This is the best self-contained city block in Singapore. It contains groups of buildings of different styles and periods which, together, are both marvelously consistent, yet interesting in their diversity. They are formed around courtyards and other pleasant spaces, well landscaped and enclosed with walls which are so appropriately in scale with the surroundings. G.D. Coleman's beautiful house is the oldest building in the enclave, which also includes the elegant Gothic chapel and St. Nicholas Girls' School buildings. It was in the Caldwell house that the Sisters did their sewing, reading and writing for so many years in the well-proportioned semicircular upstairs room whilst the 1st storey served as a parlour and visitors' room. The details of the Early Gothic style chapel are quite refined, as is the plaster work, the delicate wall faces frescoes and stained glass panels.
St. Nicholas Girls' School was established in 1933 and, after first holding classes in the 4 old bungalows which formed the Hotel Van Wijk of the 1890s and became incorporated in the Convent grounds, moved to new premises in 1913.
After being granted land in 1849 for the formation of St. Joseph's Institution, Father Nain tried his luck once more for the building of a school for girls. He was refused but, undaunted and after returning re-inspired from his voyage to France in 1852, he bought the Caldwell House for himself and eventually acquired all the 9 lots of land between Victoria Street and North Bridge Road, originally belonging to Raffles Institution. He presented them all to the Mother Superior, the Reverend Mother of St. Mathile who staffed her school with Sisters from the parent Society, the Institute of the Charitable Schools of the Holy Infant Jesus of St. Maur.
The various buildings are related to form pleasant exterior spaces which were used for church school activities until November 1983 when the school vacated the premises. The spaces contained within the whole block were then adapted for public use.
Singapore Art Museum
The Singapore Art Museum, near the National Museum, is housed in a beautifully restored school building, the former St. Joseph's Institution, the first Catholic school established in Singapore. It is Singapore's national art gallery, and showcases 20th century art pieces in Singapore and Southeast Asia. One of the main attractions of the new museum is the E-mage Gallery which features interactive programmes involving 20th century Southeast Asian art. | 
