Walk along Gambas Avenue and look out for a path along the perimeter of the fence. Turn in and you will find the only hot spring in Singapore Island.
According to a newspaper article in 1908, this hot spring was discovered in 1908, by a Municipal ranger called W. A. B Goodall on the grounds owned by Chinese merchant Seah Eng Keong (b. 1873), son of pioneer Seah Liang Seah (1850-1925). Seah Eng Keong sent samples of the water, measured at 65°C, to analysts in Europe for testing. When the water was proven safe for drinking, Seah Eng Keong set up the Singapore Natural Mineral Hot Springs Company and sold the water under the brand ‘Zombun’. For many years, Zombun was a popular table water in Singapore. The hot spring was named Seletar Hot Springs and touted as a tourist spot.
In 1921, Fraser and Neave Limited (F&N) bought over the company and sold the water under various brands. A modern bottling plant was built in 1933.
During the Japanese Occupation (1942-1945), the Japanese built thermal baths around the spring and the site became recreational grounds for their officers. In 1944, the spring was damaged during a bombing raid carried out by the Allied Forces. It was only in the 1960s that water gushed out in greater volume again. In 1967, F&N built a new bottling plant, managed by its subsidiary, Semangat Ayer Limited. A spa complex was planned but never took off. The government acquired the land for military use in 1985 but allowed F&N to continue bottling the water for a few more years.
Initially, the government planned to expand the Sembawang Airbase and cover up the hot spring. However, in vew of the local community’s outcry and request to retain them, the government decided to keep them. In 2002, a small concrete base with standpipes channelling the hot spring was built. Today, this is the only area opened to the public. Nowadays, you can still see many people coming from the neighbourhood or other parts of Singapore to check out the hot spring. Many believe in the healing properties of the water and some even believe that it can bring them good luck!