On 25 May 1961, a massive fire in Bukit Ho Swee left thousands homeless. "Operation Shift" began, in a move to place over 1000 affected families to HDB flats in Queenstown, Tiong Bahru, Alexandra and Kallang area from the relief centre. The Bukit Ho Swee area was redeveloped and flats were built in a record nine months later. In 1961 Official opening of the first phase of the new Bukit Ho Swee housing estate by Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, in September. He told Bukit Ho Swee fire victims that within a year they will be housed in flats on the site of the disastrous fire. The first completed blocks of flats, containing one-room, semi-communal units, are all occupied by fire victims. The rent is $20 a month. In 1962 Flats in Queenstown built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB). Queenstown was one of the earliest housing estates to be built by the Singapore Improvement Trust, the predecessor to HDB.
It was named after Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953, in commemoration of her being proclaimed queen. After HDB was formed in 1960, Queenstown underwent major development from 1960 to 1965 as part of HDB’s first Five Year Building Programme. In 1965 Balloting for two 10-storey flats in Macpherson estate. In 1964, HDB began selling flats under a homeownership scheme. In 1965 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visits the Queenstown housing estate as part of his two-day official visit to Singapore in February. He is accompanied by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, Yusof Ishak and the housing minister, Mr Lim Kim San. Flat residents, some from balconies, crowded to see the Duke. In 1967 An overhead bridge under construction over a busy Tiong Bahru Road, in front of a block of flats. In this year, the Land Acquisition Act enabled HDB to clear slums and squatters to free up land for public housing and infrastruture developments.
In 1968 HDB launched “Operation Broomstick”, its contribution to the national keep clean campaign. Launched in Toa Payoh and Tiong Bahru estate, residents, hawkers and officials took part by sweeping and cleaning open spaces, playgrounds and carparks. In 1969 Toa Payoh housing estate. It was the first estate planned and designed by HDB based on the neighbourhood concept, where neighbourhoods were grouped around a town centre. The centre would have public facilities such as schools and shops.
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Singapore Development of the City © 1957
