Thematic Road Names
There are several thematic clusters in the naming of roads off Bukit Timah. Many of these are named after various trees or plants such as the evergreen temperate tree species which lent their names to roads such as Redwood Avenue and Cypress Avenue. This area was previously known as Eden Park. Other clusters include the Jambu roads such as Jalan Jambu, Jalan Jambu Batu and Jalan Jambu Ayer which are names of various local fruits in Malay. There is also a cluster of roads with alliterating flower names beginning with the letter L such as Lotus Avenue and Lily Avenue.
Road Names
Adam Road
Named in 1922 after Frank Adam, the former Managing Director of Pulau Brani Tin Smelting Works and one-time President of the St Andrew's Society. The road is the only WWII battlefield that has survived almost intact.
Denham Close
Named after G.C. Denham, the Inspector General of Police in the 1920s.
Garlick Avenue
Dato George Herbert Garlick (1886-1958), a resident of Bukit Timah, lent his name to this road where he lived. He was the Principal Medical Officer in Singapore and Johor after WWII and was buried at the Bidadari Cemetery.
Shelford Avenue
In 1941, the road was named after Thomas Shelford, Municipal Commissioner and long-term member of the Legislative Council during the late 1800s.
Vanda Road
Named after Singapore’s national flower - Vanda Miss Joaquim which was first discovered by Agnes Joaquim (1854-1899) in 1893 behind her home.
Malay Road Names
Many of the roads off Bukit Timah have Malay origins which indicate a vibrant Malay community in the past. Some roads are named after popular Malay cakes or kueh such as Jalan Bingka and Jalan Keria. Others are named after plants such as Jalan Siantan, Jalan Gaharu and Jalan Pandan.