The trail begins at the Heritage Garden @ Yishun, in front of the Housing and Development Board’s branch office in Yishun Central 1. Launched in 2010, this is Singapore’s first outdoor heritage space. This joint project between the Housing and Development Board and National Heritage Board tells the story of Yishun and Sembawang from the days of gambier and pepper planting in the 1800s to the development of the new towns in the late 1900s.
Yishun New Town
Right up to the 1970s, Yishun New Town, as we know it today, was covered with farms and villages. Urbanisation in this area began in 1976 with the construction of Yishun New Town. By 1986, it had become a modern satellite town, with more than 28,000 units built and over 110,000 residents.
With the completion of the Yishun Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) station in 1988, and the opening of the Cineplex, Yishun 10, and Northpoint Shopping Centre in 1992, Yishun soon became a popular destination for Singaporeans!
Yishun New Town is an end third-generation satellite town and is characterised by its layout. Concentric rings such as Yishun Ring Road are linked by radial roads, making it easier to get from one neighbourhood to another. Natural features are also considered in the town’s planning. As you continue on the trail, observe how hills and waterways form part of Yishun’s design.