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Few people in Singapore and Johor have heard of Istana Woodneuk until news emerged in 2025 about a land swap agreement between the Singapore government and Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail (crown prince of Johor).
Tunku Ismail of Johor wished to re-develop a parcel of land which he owned, known as Tyersall Park, adjacent to Singapore Botanical Gardens.
Tyersall Park used to contain two palaces belonging to the Johor royal family - Istana Tyersall and Istana Woodneuk.
Sultan Abu Bakar bought the parcels of land from English trader Dill Ross and lawyer Will Napier in 1857. Istana Woodneuk was originally Captain Ross' splendid residence.
On purchasing this estate, Sultan Abu Bakar moved into Captain Ross' house and made it Istana Woodneuk, his Singapore residence with Sultanah Fatimah Binti Abdullah.
A telephone line, the first in Singapore, was laid between Istana Woodneuk and Tyersall House (William Napier's former residence).
Tyersall House was destroyed by fire in 1890 and Sultan Abu Bakar decided to built a new palace Istana Tyersall, over its ashes at the site.
Sultanah Fatimah oversaw the construction of Istana Tyersall which was to be her residence. However, Sultanah Fatimah passed away a year before Istana Tyersall was completed in 1892.
The opulence of Istana Tyersall was befitting the wealth of the Johor royal family.
Sultanah Khadijah moved into Istana Tyersall in 1892 and lived there until she passed away in 1904.
Unfortunately, a year later Istana Tyersall was badly damaged by fire in 1905 and abandoned (but not demolished) ever since.
The dilapidated remains of Istana Tyersall and its surrounds were acquired from the Sultan of Johor by the Singapore government in 1990.
Istana Woodneuk between 1900 and 1914.
After the Istana Tyersall fire in 1905, Istana Woodneuk was the only palace left in Tyersall Park.
Istana Woodneuk too had its own brushes with fires - it was damaged by fire in 1932, refurbished in 1935 but was badly burnt again in 2007.
After Istana Woodneuk was damaged by fire in 1932, Sultan Ibrahim refurbished it for his wife Sultanah Helen in 1935 and renamed it Istana Wooden York. However, it continued to be called Istana Woodneuk till today.
Keeping house required 30 gardeners, 12 stable hands, and 60 servants consisting of the butler, cooks, bell boy, sweepers, etc. Source: Captain Ross's Home. The Straits Budget, 21 April 1938, Page 5
During the Second World War, Sultan of Johor loaned Istana Woodneuk to the British forces. It was headquarters of the British army in Singapore, occupied by Japanese forces in 1942, retaken by the British in 1945 and used by the Governor General, before it was returned to the Sultan of Johor in 1948.
These photos were taken in 1986.
Istana Woodneuk's distinctive blue tile roof was still intact. It had a huge well tended lawn and a paved driveway leading right up to the sheltered front porch and main entrance.
A caretaker and his family looked after the property until his death in 2004.
A fire in 2007 caused major damage to the blue roof and upper floor. It was deemed beyond repair, after which it was abandoned.
It remains a ruin till now.
Today, the lawn and driveway are gone, taken back by the forest.
The track in the forest leading to the ruins of Istana Woodneuk is some 20 steps away from bus stop 11209 (opposite Pierce Road) along Holland Road. Nearest MRT station is Napier about 10 minutes walk from here.
Entrance to the track, visible but inconspicuous and easy to miss.
View of the main entrance in 1986.
The main entrance in Aug 2025. The wooden doors and wall fixtures were gone.
Step inside and you will see niches on both inside walls at the entrance.
The original ornate ventilation blocks above the doorway are still in pretty good shape.
It is dark inside the abandoned house even in broad daylight.
View of the balconies on the upper floor from the lawn in 1986.
From the upper floor balcony - today, the forest has claimed back the lawn.
Imagine sipping tea, looking out at the forests and green lawns:
"Few moments can be more pleasantly passed in the early morn over a cup of tea in the great black verandah than in watching the flocks of birds animating the green depths of the great waringin (fig tree) as the rising sun flooded it with colour." Source: Captain Ross's Home. The Straits Budget, 21 April 1938, Page 5
Royalty once stood on this balcony. Today, the view is blocked by the forest which I found beautiful too.
The original iron grilles are still sturdy.
Not the Fort Canning Park "tree tunnel" but I feel this has it own character and authenticity 🤭
Mother Nature has invited herself back to the house.
The original blue roof tiles scattered across the floor.
As Istana Woodneuk sat on land of interest which is just adjacent to the UNESCO World Heritage site Singapore Botanical Gardens, the Singapore government proposed a land swap agreement with Tunku Ismail (in response to the regent's plan to redevelop the land). In exchange for the Tyersall Park site, the Singapore government offered another land parcel of equal value further away from the Botanical Gardens.
Tunku Ismail and the Singapore government have agreed to the land swap which was completed in 2025.
Note: The ruins of Istana Woodneuk are out of bounds unless authorised.
Written by Tony Boey on 30 Aug 2025
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References:
Planned entirely by the Sultan and Sultana of Johore a residence has been built for them in Tanglin near the Botanical Gardens. It has been named “ Woodneuk.” The Straits Budget, 19 September 1935, Page 20
apparently sg gvt owns it now & seen some posts of visitors going to palace last week now its supposedly legal to do so
ReplyDeleteMy relative used to rent a plot for landscaping business.
ReplyDelete