Padang becomes Singapore’s 75th National Monument

The Padang has been officially gazetted as Singapore’s 75th National Monument on National Day (Aug 9). The event was attended by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong.

It is the first open, green space to join the list of National Monuments, which includes other iconic Singapore landmarks like the MacDonald house and Fort Siloso.

With the gazette, the character and appearance of the Padang will be preserved for future generations, while ensuring that it is still open for use.

“The Padang is a site of great national historic significance as it stood witness to many key milestones in our country’s history,” said Mr Tong in a Facebook post.

As one of Singapore’s oldest public spaces, it has seen many celebrations for jubilees, coronations, festivals and royal birthdays. Sporting events during the colonial period such as New Year’s Day sports and cricket matches were also held there.

The historic site is also associated with key milestones in Singapore, including the victory parade celebrating the formal surrender of the Japanese in Singapore in 1954, the unveiling of the country’s national symbols in 1959, as well as the inaugural National Day parade in 1966.

The Padang is still used to host major sporting events such as the Singapore Cricket Club International Rugby Sevens, and serves as the starting and end-point of the Singapore Marathon.

Following the gazette, the National Heritage Board will launch various commemorative initiatives such as interactive games and tours for members of the public. The initiatives are geared towards promoting greater awareness and appreciation of the Padang’s significance.

This includes Maze@Padang, a Minecraft game that will transport upper primary school students to a virtual underground maze beneath the Padang. While competing against their peers to hunt for clues and escape the maze, students will learn about the significance of the place and its key milestones.

In addition, new guided tours focusing on the Padang and its surrounding National Monuments will be launched in August. Members of the public can also look forward to Monumental Hunt, an informative puzzle hunt in the civic district that will launch in November.