The Teachers’ Housing Estate was started by Singapore Teachers’ Union (STU) in 1967 to provide teachers with affordable housing. To keep development costs low, STU decided to undertake the project in the rural area, and acquired a tract of land off Yio Chu Kang Road.
Completed in 1968, 256 terrace houses were built in all, priced between $23,000 and $25,000.
While the prices were low for the times, it was still a large sum for teachers then, the majority of whom were earning between $325 and $690 a month. About 70% of the houses were sold to teachers eventually.
In the early days, residents were dependent on washerwomen and baby-sitters from the kampungs along Yio Chu Kang Road. There were no provision shops or markets within walking distance and residents would buy from a mobile market selling groceries from a van or drive to the market at Nee Soon Village along Sembawang Road. It was only in the 1970s that shops were set up in the estate.
In 1973, STU completed the Teachers’ Centre, located in the estate. The centre was equipped with office space and a multi-purpose hall. Facilities such as a swimming pool, squash courts, a library and a canteen were built. Such facilities were uncommon in the 1970s and they were highly popular among STU members.
Schools would also use the centre for events such as seminars. Courses were run for STU members, from professional development to recreational courses including cooking and social dancing here.
Towards the 1990s, however, schools had become much better-equipped and facilities such as swimming pools had become more common. The Teachers’ Centre was no longer as relevant as it once was. In 2010, the land occupied by the facilities was leased to a private property developer.