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Top 10 Facts about Pulau Ubin
Pulau Ubin is an island located in the northeast region of Singapore to the west of Pulau Tekong. It is north of Pasir Ris on the mainland. In the 1960s the zone had
a few thousand settlers due to the granite quarry activities that were in the area. But the number of settlers dropped to less than a hundred by 2012.
Ubin is one of the biggest rural areas found in modern Singapore with a multitude of natural flora and fauna. This makes it one of the sought-out islands with nature-based tourist attractions in Singapore.
The island is home to a large number of visiting and residing birds with some being endangered in the modern day. With a large number of birds on the island, Ubin-Khatib is designated an Important Bird Area and bird life is protected.
The island is currently managed by the National Parks Board. But in earlier years, it was divided among twelve agencies managing different areas of the island.
Check out the top10 truths about Pulau Ubin.
1. Pulau Ubin means “Island Stone”
Pulau Ubin, Singapore by Sengkang from Wikimedia Commons
The etymology of Pulau Ubin originates from the word Granite Island, which relates to the many abandoned granite quarries present there. The word Pulau means island and Ubin is said to mean squared stone.
The Malays (Austronesian ethnic group) refer to the island as Pulau Batu Ubin, or “Granite Stone Island.” In the early days, the rock of the island was used to make floor tiles and known as Jubin, which later became Ubin.
2. There is a myth about how Pulau Ubin was formed
Legends and myths surround the formation of Pulau Ubin Island. There is a folklore that three animals (a frog, elephant, and pig) from Singapore raced each other to the shores of Johor.
The animals that failed to complete the race would turn to stone. Yet all the animals were unable to cross the shores of Johor due to various difficulties. Hence the elephant and the pig together became Pulau Ubin. The frog became Pulau Sekudu or Frog Island. There you have it, the folk tale of Pulau Ubin’s formation.
3 . Pulau Ubin was a quarrying center
Pulau Ubin first appeared on maps in the year 1828 as a sketch of the island of Singapore, when it was Pulo Obin (PO). Ubin later started featuring on maps like the Franklin and Jackson map. The island was once famous for its granite.
The innumerable granite quarries on the island supplied the local construction industry. For instance, the granite from Pulau Ubin built the Horsburgh Lighthouse in early 1850 and 1851.
The granite from Pulau Ubin was also used to construct the Singapore-Johor Causeway. Currently, the quarries are not operational and are being reclaimed by vegetation and replaced by water.
Quarrying was not the only activity of the residents as they did some farming and fishing as well. In 1970, most quarries closed down, and jobs decreased, leading to a decline in the population.
A beautiful scenery came after the closing of the quarries due to granite outcrops especially from the sea. These grooves created furrows and ridges on the granite slabs. These amazing features are portrayed in Johns Turnbull Thomson’s 1850 painting titled the Grooved Stones on Pulo Ubin near Singapore.
4. Pulau Ubin faced a considerable population decline
A traditional village house on Pulau Ubin, Singapore by Cmglee from Wikimedia Commons
Pulau Ubin was occupied by several Malays led by Endut Senin in early 1880. Their community thrived on the island and many of the villages on Pulau were given names either after the first person who settled there or by the area’s features.
Leman village got its name from a Singaporean named Leman, and Cik Jawa village was also named after a Singaporean named Jawa. The village of Jelutong is inhabited by people from Changi. Before 1910, the island was home to a German-run coffee plantation. Hence the commemoration of the death of a German resident at the German Girl Shrine.
Between 1950 and 1970, the population of the island was about 2000. On July 3, 2005, the Singapore government ordered the relocation of chicken farms to government-approved farms. The government also offered the residents a government housing package although they could choose to stay on the island. This resulted in a population of less than a hundred permanent residents on the island as of the year 2012.
5. Bin Kiang School was the first school in Pulau Ubin
In 1952 a school was established by Chinese donations called Bin Kiang School. This solved the problem they had of lessons being conducted on the village wayang stage. The total number of students enrolled was 400.
The numbers feel down due to the development of Singapore’s mainland. The school was closed in the year 1985 and was demolished on April 2 in the year 2000. There was also a private Malays school around Melayu village in the year 1956 but it was also closed in the late 1970s.
6. Pulau Ubin is a preferred place for campsites
This island is a desirable place for several campsites. There are many campsites, but to mention a few, outward-bound Singapore (OBS), founded in 1967 at Pulau Ubin by Dr. Goh Keng Swee. Also, the National Police Cadet Corps, opened a 25-acre camp referred to as camp resilience for training purposes.
7. Ubin town is the only settlement on the island
Ubin village is the only settlement on the island. It is near Ubin Jetty. Many businesses in the village cater to visitors to the island with several bicycle shops, restaurants, and provision shops lining the village center. There is also a Chinese opera stage managed by the village temple. It is one of the three Chinese opera stages surviving in Singapore.
8. Pulau Ubin is preserved by Singapore
The Singaporean government has declared that the island will remain in its present state for as long as possible. The wooden houses, quaint villages, wooden jetties, preserved wildlife, abandoned quarries, and untouched nature on the island are a glimpse of old Singapore before modern industrialization and large-scale urbanization.
9. Pulau Ubin island is a local and international tourist attraction
Recreational activities such as summer camps and outdoor activities are popular on the island thanks to the stunning natural scenery. The popularity of nature has grown over the years hence increasing the number of visitors over the years.
The Cheka Jawa former coral reef is the most popular attraction. There is also a boardwalk running through the mangrove to allow visitors to observe the plants and marine life up close.
10. Pulau Ubin supports Ecology projects
The hornbill conservation project in Pulau contributes to the breeding and recovery of oriental pied hornbills. This animal was extinct before. In May 2009, they established the seahorse conservation monitoring project to track and identify the population of seahorses.
Pulau Ubin is an important tourist attraction in Singapore that offers many outdoor activities such as camping, nature walks, and biking. In Pulau Ubin and its island, mountain biking is the most popular activity since it is home to Singapore’s mountain biking trails. It is an excellent place to visit for those who love outdoor activities.
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