Alexandra Point
438 Alexandra Road #16-01
Singapore 119958
The very first commercial brewery in Singapore was established along Alexandra Road by German businessmen in 1931. Producing the popular Anchor Beer, the brewery was built here as it was near the Malayan Railway, which provided convenient transportation for exporting the beer. In 1939, with the onset of World War Two, the British colonial government annexed the brewery as enemy property, selling it later in 1941 to the Malayan Breweries Limited, a joint venture between Heineken and Fraser & Neave. From the 1930s right till the 1960s, the brewery was managed by Dutch expatriates. Gradually, locals were hired for key positions such as engineers. Jobs at the brewery were always sought after as the company was well-known for its work culture and employee welfare. Mdm Loo Oi Heng, who worked at the brewery for 36 years, recalled, "The management was very good too. Like a big family. They were very friendly you didn't feel well, and you need to see a doctor, they would tell you to see the company doctor. Every week, the company doctor would come to the brewery."
Brewing was carried out at the main plant, located where Anchor Point now stands. Bottled beer was then transported via a wooden conveyor belt across an overhead bridge to the canning line, where IKEA stands today. Production continued till 1990, when operations were relocated to Tuas.
The original site, together with the canning line and warehouse, made way for residential and commercial use. Today, the only reminder of the factory is the brewmaster's office, a two-storey bungalow which now houses a restaurant.