Raffles' Landing Site, Singapore

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Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore in 1819.

The actual Raffles Landing Site is situated at the North of Boat Quay. You will find the white marble replica of the Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles guarding over the Singapore River.

There is a black replica of the Sir Stamford Raffles statue located just outside the Victoria Theatre Concert Hall.

Do take the Singapore River Bump Boat Cruise.

This is a popular tourist photo spot where it is said that the founder of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles first step on Singapore along the river bank of Singapore river in 1819.

The white marble statue with the blue sky in the background is a reminder of how Singapore was established. The island "Tumasek" and surrounded islands were ceded to the British East India Company in 1824 through a treaty with the Malay sultanate of Johor.

So thanks to the vision of one man, Sir Stamford Raffles, Singapore outgrew the rival ports of Melaka, Penang, Batavia (Jakarta) to become one of the largest busiest ports in the world today.

This spot along Boat Quay is where Singapore's founder, Sir Stamford Raffles, is believed to have first stepped ashore and is marked by a statue made of pure white polymarble. The original figure stands outside Victoria Concert Hall and Theatre, and was cast in dark bronze by Thomas Woolner.

Raffles Landing Site is the place where Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, founder of Singapore, is believed to have landed on Singapore on 29 January 1819.

Sir Raffles was an agent of the British East India Company, had ventured to Singapore in the hope of establishing a British port and his ambition was to make Singapore a free port and a stopping point for traders along the shortest sea route between India and China.

This statue is a replica of the original bronze work cast by Thomas Woolner unveiled in 1887 which is located in front of Victoria Concert Hall.

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Sir Stamford Raffles was born on July 6, 1781 on the ship Ann off the coast of Jamaica. He is hailed as the founder of Singapore, setting up the first trading post in 1819, hence, setting in motion what would become the largest shipping port in the world. It's BIG!!!

A white polymarble statue now stands at North Boat Quay where it is believed that Sir Stamford Raffles first set foot onto Singapore.

I wouldnt declare it a must see while in Singapore, but being that it is located in Boat Quay and makes for a great location to get shots of the city Sky-line and Boat Quay. Then why not pay a visit to the statue.

On the banks of the Singapore River, opposite the bars and cafes along Boat Quay is the marble statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.

The plaque reads:

On this historic site, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles first landed in Singapore on 28th January 1819, and with genius and peception changed the destiny of Singapore from an obscure fishing vilage to a great seaport and modern metropolis"

This is well worth taking a look, as it comemorates an important moment in Singapores history.

Incidentally, this is also the guy who founded London Zoo!

This riverbank site marked by a white monument to Sir Raffles is now surrounded by beautiful spruced up colonial buildings overlooking the impressive tall canyon of skyscrapers of the Financial district across the Singapore River.

One cannot believe that this area was once a mangrove populated by a handful of Malay fishing villagers which later turned into a busy docking port full of Chinese coolies. The site is now so thoroughly gentrified and its a pleasant way to stroll along the river promenade.

"On this historic site Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles first landed in Singapore on 28 January 1819 and with genius and perception
changed the destiny of Singapore from an obscure fishing village to a great seaport
and modern metropolis."