Until the early 70s, Hawkers plied their trade on the streets.
Pushcarts were common and many hawkers actually carried & some even cycled to your door steps and cooked when you ordered.
This all ceased by early 1980s when hawkers were housed in new purpose built hawker centers as part of overall strategy to modernise Singapore which included ensuring food preparation and dining out were done in a hygienic, affordable & sustainable environment.
Minister Lim Kim San who was responsible for building the 1st HDB flats in Queenstown in the 1960s was also credited for conceptualising and rehousing the street hawkers to the purpose build hawker centers after he helmed the new Environment Ministry in 1975.
He was a foodie and used to patronise the then open-air food courts at Koek Road before they were relocated to the Cuppage Road and Newton Circus Hawker Centers.
These pictures tell a great story of a time before the hawkers were relocated to the purpose build hawker centers.
Colonial Singapore days
(pre-1959)
The Chinese has been hawking their makan from the very early days.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
So too the Indian Muslims at the Padang.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Street Hawkers
(1960s to 1970s)
Today the Funan Mall has replaced the shop houses, though the Central Fire Station remains.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Republic Plaza now stands where once roving hawkers served their meals.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Makan Satay at Satay Club along the Esplanade was always a favorite.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Make shift hawker stalls at Boat Quay.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Kueh TuTu at the windy Esplanade is a must have.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Noodles. Always been the working man must have meal.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
A lone stall at shady Tiong Bahru.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Walk, Carry, Cook…. repeat.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Even young boys need their fill of beef tripe noodles.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Environment Minister Lim Kim San inspecting a Goreng Pisang stall.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew having a Tau Huay Drink.
Image Credit: National Archives of Singapore
Good round up of hawkers’ history with nostalgic photos for readers to visualise the bygone days.
Thanks Munir. Our Hawker Centers are actually very recent history as many were still plying the streets until mid 1980s. Interestingly, most of the hawker centers today were built in early days of HDB and suddenly stopped by 1985, only to restart after 2011.