Marker Text:
This is believed to be the site of the Master Attendant’s Office in the late 19th Century. The first official Master Attendant was Captain William Lawrence Flint, brother-in-law of Sir Stamford Raffles.
The Master Attendant supervised all harbour activities, including registration of vessels and their cargoes, collection of anchorage and port clearance fees and supply of fresh water and firewood. The Office also served as the post office for the early settlement.
The introduction of steam ships in the 1840s made it necessary to establish a deep-water harbour. In 1852, the New Harbour, now Keppel Harbour was established. The harbour at the Singapore River continued to function and specialised in regional trade.
In 1919, a Water Office owned by Hammer & Company was built here to supply fresh water to incoming ships. The Port of Singapore Authority took over the building in 1960 and continued to provide fresh water to incoming ships till 1990. The building is now under the Fullerton Hotel management.