This traditional cache in the Gardens by the Bay brings you to the Colonial Garden, where you can learn about the history of the various cash crops and commodities in colonial Singapore. Places like the now-famous shopping strip of Orchard Road owe their name and origins to these plantations.
A Colonial History of Commercial Agriculture in Singapore
In the 19th century, Singapore's economic prosperity stemmed from its role as a free port strategically positioned along a major trade route connecting the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. While trade was a primary contributor to this success, commercial agriculture also played a substantial role during this period.
The earliest topographical survey of Singapore Town in 1829 revealed extensive agricultural plots on the outskirts of settled areas. These included paddy fields, sugar cane plantations, betel vine cultivation, and gambier plantations around Orchard Road. Over the years, the landscape transformed as coconuts replaced paddy fields, pineapples thrived on Pulau Blakang Mati (today’s Sentosa Island), and nutmeg orchards appeared in the Claymore district.
Gambier and Pepper Plantation in Singapore (circa 1900)
Since the British arrival in 1819, significant land area was dedicated to cultivating crops like pepper, gambier, nutmeg, coconut, pineapple, and rubber. Gambier, a fast-growing shrub, was initially used for betel chewing and later gained value for tanning leather. Seah Eu Chin, known as the "Gambier King," dominated with extensive plantations. Pepper, a more profitable crop, was often grown alongside gambier, utilizing the latter's boiled leaves as fertilizer. However, this practice, along with the extraction of gambier catechu, led to soil exhaustion and deforestation, prompting a cycle of shifting cultivation.
Nutmeg, introduced by Raffles, was prized by the colonists, but unfortunately, faced neglect and a mysterious blight, leading to challenges in sustaining plantations. Despite setbacks, nutmeg cultivation persisted, facing another blow in the 1850s from the nutmeg beetle when its popularity as a crop waned for good.
Pineapples in a Bullock Cart in Singapore (circa 1900)
Coconut plantations, notably along the southeastern coast, thrived with pioneers like Francis Bernard and Thomas Dunman. These plantations, while successful, contributed to the depletion of coastal forests. Pineapple cultivation, on the other hand, originating with the Bugis, became a significant crop by 1849, contributing to local consumption and exports through pineapple leaf fibre trade.
The plantation era paved the way for the rise of rubber in the late 19th century, marking a transition in Singapore's agricultural focus. Rubber, driven by innovation and demand, eventually became a dominant cash crop with extensive plantations and far-reaching economic implications. The prosperity of these plantations, however, faced challenges from factors like changing economic conditions, and wartime disruptions. The post-war era saw shifts in land use, transforming former plantation areas into urban developments and reshaping Singapore's economic trajectory.
The Geocache
Close to the GZ, you can read about the surprising history of a forgotten cash crop in Singapore – the cacao tree (Theobroma cacao), which, of course, is the main ingredient in chocolate. Like many colonial crops, cacao is not native to region, and had to be transported by the British colonists from tropical South America.
At this point, you’re probably craving for some sweet stuff – and while I can’t leave any chocolates out for you in our tropical heat, I can offer you a geocache to find. Hope you enjoy it!