Teutonia Club - Singapore - 1900
Scotts Rd, Singapore.
Built in a mix of Queen Anne, Dutch, German and English styles, this was the club house for the German community. The Teutonia Club was first formed in 1855 to promote 'social intercourse' amongst Germans in Singapore. By 1899, membership had grown to over a hundred.
Designed by architect RAJ Bidwell of Messrs Swan & Maclaren, it was opened by the then Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir James Alexander Swettenham on 21 September 1900. On a night of dancing and celebration of Anglo-German unity by the elite of Singapore, irrespective of nationality, toasts were raised to both the Kaiser and Queen Victoria. The Straits Times enthused:-
"The unanimous opinion last night was that the German community possess in their new Clubhouse a building which is a distinct addition to the buildings of Singapore, and is better than all of them."
In fact the German community got on so well with the British community in Singapore that in 1912 it was recorded that:-
"...the Teutonia Club, the best institution of the kind in Singapore...no one who has ever visited the club can easily forget the unstinted hospitality at all times dispensed by the members. Bowling matches, which excite the keenest rivalry, are held periodically between the members of the Teutonia Club and the neighbouring Tanglin Club, when the highest sporting instincts are displayed on both sides, as well as the best of fellowship, which goes to prove that national patriotism is not inconsistent with indvidual friendship, and that racial asperities disappear when men of different countries come into closer social relationship."
Fine words and sentiments indeed and yet, within three years of this piece, Britain and Germany were at war and the 300 German nationals in the Straits Settlements were declared enemy aliens and were removed with their families and interned in Australia. The club was seized under the Custodian of Enemy Property laws.
After the war, the property was acquired by the Jewish Manassah brothers, Ezekiel, Morris and Ellis, who transformed the building into the Goodwood Hall, a reception hall and popular wedding venue. By 1929, with the growing popularity of tourism and travel, it was converted into the Goodwood Park Hotel and it continues to flourish as such to this day.
Teutonia Club - Singapore - 1900
Scotts Rd, Singapore.
Built in a mix of Queen Anne, Dutch, German and English styles, this was the club house for the German community. The Teutonia Club was first formed in 1855 to promote 'social intercourse' amongst Germans in Singapore. By 1899, membership had grown to over a hundred.
Designed by architect RAJ Bidwell of Messrs Swan & Maclaren, it was opened by the then Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements Sir James Alexander Swettenham on 21 September 1900. On a night of dancing and celebration of Anglo-German unity by the elite of Singapore, irrespective of nationality, toasts were raised to both the Kaiser and Queen Victoria. The Straits Times enthused:-
"The unanimous opinion last night was that the German community possess in their new Clubhouse a building which is a distinct addition to the buildings of Singapore, and is better than all of them."
In fact the German community got on so well with the British community in Singapore that in 1912 it was recorded that:-
"...the Teutonia Club, the best institution of the kind in Singapore...no one who has ever visited the club can easily forget the unstinted hospitality at all times dispensed by the members. Bowling matches, which excite the keenest rivalry, are held periodically between the members of the Teutonia Club and the neighbouring Tanglin Club, when the highest sporting instincts are displayed on both sides, as well as the best of fellowship, which goes to prove that national patriotism is not inconsistent with indvidual friendship, and that racial asperities disappear when men of different countries come into closer social relationship."
Fine words and sentiments indeed and yet, within three years of this piece, Britain and Germany were at war and the 300 German nationals in the Straits Settlements were declared enemy aliens and were removed with their families and interned in Australia. The club was seized under the Custodian of Enemy Property laws.
After the war, the property was acquired by the Jewish Manassah brothers, Ezekiel, Morris and Ellis, who transformed the building into the Goodwood Hall, a reception hall and popular wedding venue. By 1929, with the growing popularity of tourism and travel, it was converted into the Goodwood Park Hotel and it continues to flourish as such to this day.