The Place We Meet...

( 'TUA QIU KA' in Hokien, FLAME TREE in English, in Chinese)

This was one monster tree that was a favourite meeting place for the village people. Its massive branches had such a large span that social activities took place beneath its protected leaves. People staying in the Upper Thomson Road and Jalan Pemimpin area (today, it is the area where the Shell petrol station and Bishan Fire Station are located) would go there to meet friends over food and drinks, and to tune in to the latest gossip and happenings

History

The Big Tree became the focus of community activities, and may have been the original community centre. A popular activity was the hanging of the longest firecrackers from its branches during Chinese New Year celebrations. Rooted under the tree as far back as the 1930s, were two famous coffee stalls that brewed coffee the traditional way, and make-shift food stalls that served up delicious porridge, mixed food rice and fishball noodle.

As Singapore progressed and development picked up speed in the 1970s, the Big Tree had to make way for road-widening. According to people who witnessed the felling of this historical tree, red fluid that looked like blood, flowed out from the tree. Thus, it was also known as 'Blood Tree' ('shue shu' in Mandarin).

Even though the Big Tree is no longer with us, but its spirit has been revived in the form of the GRC web site. Just like in the past, where the Big Tree was the magnet that brought the community together, this web site aims to attract and bring the people staying in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC together, to experience and share in the community spirit.

Time Travel

So, what was the past like? Bishan-Toa Payoh town today has gone through a remarkable make-over from its early days.

Journey back in time to see the historical beginnings of our Town, when Toa Payoh was a swampland and Bishan was home for the dead.

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