Celebrating 100 Years of the Johor-Singapore Causeway

In a grand celebration of the Johor-Singapore Causeway’s centennial anniversary, the National Heritage Board (NHB) and the National Library Board (NLB) have launched a series of commemorative events and resources, highlighting the historical and cultural significance of this vital connection between Singapore and Malaysia.

NHB’s Travelling Exhibition: The Causeway – A Century of Connections

The NHB has unveiled a new travelling exhibition titled “The Causeway: A Century of Connections”. This exhibition traces the rich history of the Causeway from its opening on June 28, 1924, by Sir Laurence Guillemard, Governor of the Straits Settlements, and Sultan Ibrahim of Johor, to its current status as one of the world’s busiest land border crossings. The exhibition explores the Causeway’s development alongside the region’s rapid post-war growth and its resilience through events such as the Japanese Occupation and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The exhibition also brings to life personal stories of those whose lives have been touched by the Causeway. Highlights include tales of women who shopped at the Woodlands Saturday night market in the 1970s, students like Isabel Chang who commuted daily from Johor to Singapore for school, and workers stranded by the Causeway’s closure during the pandemic.

Designed to mimic the old Woodlands immigration checkpoints, the exhibition offers an immersive experience complete with ‘passports’ for collecting ‘immigration stamps’. Archival photographs from both Singaporean and Malaysian institutions enrich the narrative. The exhibition kicked off on June 28, 2024, at Woodlands Civic Centre and will travel to various locations, including the National Archives of Singapore and public libraries.

NLB’s Digital Celebrations and Public Talks

In conjunction with the anniversary, the NLB has launched a curated website featuring a treasure trove of archival records related to the Causeway. Visitors can explore photographs, audio-visual resources, and oral history interviews. The website presents bite-sized stories on the Causeway’s history, construction, and its role in the movement of people and goods, offering fascinating insights and lesser-known events.

Moreover, an extract from “The Causeway” book, jointly published by the National Archives of Malaysia and the National Archives of Singapore in 2011, is featured in the July-September 2024 issue of BiblioAsia. This feature delves into the construction of the Causeway, providing readers with a historical journey back 100 years. Print copies of BiblioAsia are available at all public libraries and the National Archives of Singapore, with digital versions accessible online.

The NLB has also organized a series of public talks, scheduled for June 27, July 4, and September 19, 2024. These talks will feature archivists from the National Archives of Singapore, guest speakers from the National Archives of Malaysia, and experts from the National University of Singapore, covering various aspects of the Causeway’s history and significance.