Credit : Singapore Science Centre
Anyone recall whether there is a Sentosa Primary School? Or is there anyone here from that school before? I was surprised when I read about such a school in an old magazine.
The above article on Singapore Maritime Museum in the Science Centre Bulletin (1976 issue) stated that there was a Sentosa Primary School in Sentosa itself. The Sentosa Primary School was temporary used to house the gallery for the Singapore Maritime Museum.
Let me check my old street directory (1976 edition). Below showed that there was such a school called Sentosa Primary School;
but the actual location of the school, I’m not too sure;
Credit : Chief Surveyor, Survey Dept, Ministry of Law.
Sad to say both the school and the Singapore Maritime Museum were no longer around. This Maritime Museum was set up by the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA). The opening of the Maritime Museum by the PSA at Sentosa in 1975 gave visitors a glimpse of the port’s history.
I’ve been to this Maritime Museum at Sentosa before but somehow the exhibits did not interest me at that time so I don’t think I’ve any photos taken except those found on the net;
Maybe some will remember this iconic signal mast;
Credit : TNP
The signal mast was moved to Singapore Maritime Museum in Sentosa when the area around Albert Dock was developed into a container terminal in 1972. The mast stood there for 26 years until the Maritime Museum closed in 2001 due to poor attendance. You may read more about the historic mast here.
Let’s hope the new maritime museum at Resorts World will be a success. Below is the model of the new maritime museum;
Times of My Life 
Hi!
“The 10 year old school will soon be demolised to make way for the construction of a maritime museum, the first in South-east Asia.” … quote The Straits Times 14 July 1974.
I obtained this info from the digitised version via The National Library Board’s website. For the full extract, you have to visit the Library and view the microfilm.
Cheers.
lkk, my 1969 directory shows that there were two schools on pulau blakang mati (old name for sentosa). one was at the end of jetty road and the other was the same as the one in your 1976 directory. i cannot find the name ‘sentosa primary school’ in my directory but there is a ‘blakang mati primary school (integrated)’. the other school on the island was sin hwa school, a chinese primary school.
That’s great info Dan, thanks.
YG, I guess ‘Blakang Mati Pri Sch’ is that Sentosa Pri Sch. Didn’t know there’s another sch there.
Yes there was no such name as Sentosa Pri Sch. The actual name where Maritime Museum situated was known as Blakang Mati Intergrated Primary School. I graduated there in the year 1972 for 6 years. In fact I was brought up there.
Thanks for the info Ghazali. So it’s formally known as Blakang Mati Integrated Primary School! Wonder why the street directory listed it as Sentosa Primary School?
Pernah tak engkau pergi sekolah dgn rosli, anak british armi dari pulau brani jalan depan pokok mangga depan berek gurkha?
Hi Rosli,
Sorry I don’t read Malay language, can you post it in English? Thank you.
Actually the school building housed Sekolah Melayu Telok Blangah (Malay School) and Blakang Mati Primary School. After 1-2 years schooling there they decided to change the name Blakang Mati (literally translated from malay – Dead Behind) to Sentosa (meaning Peace/serene). After 3 years there I transferred to another school when we shifted to Clementi.
Thanks Azizah for the infos.
The school is Blakang Mati (Integrated) Primary School when the island is still named Pulau Blakang Mati. It was changed to Sentosa Primary School, when the Island was named Sentosa. I attended 6 years of primary school there.
Yeo
Hi ppl…Yes Sentosa Primary Sch was actually Blakang Mati Intergrated Pri Sch. I studied there and lived there when my dad was a navy officer attached to Maritime Command at the island.
it is true,my mom was living at sentosa and her school was sentosa primary
Anybody remembers Wak Amir?…he stayed at Pulau Blakang Mati and he was a Generator Man in Engine Room at Pulau Brani…What about Wak Mastor…he worked there as well…1960’s…
I remember being at school on Blakang Mati the 1950’s, I recall it being staffed by the British Army at the time. My father was a Sgt with the 1st Singagapore Regt R.A. We returned to the UK after my father’s 3 year posting.
tahir adam
I am staying in pulau brani but went to school in blakang mati in 1967.it the only english school nearer to pulau brani.
Tahir,
apa nama nenek yang ajar mengaji kat rumah atas air tu, dekat jetty tu…nek putih ke nama dia…aku ngaji situ dulu…
kakak yang ajar tuition depan padang bola tu, kak galo ke nama dia…depan rumah dia ada pokok kemboja putih…ingat lagi ke ko tempat tu…
Only memories are left, I am from that former primary school. Still manage to contact some friends from that era:)
Tahir, same time with me, Mohd.Muda here.
Geoff, my father was with the British Army at Pulau Brani till 70’s when they move out from Spore.
Hi, my name is Albert Daniel, people fondly call me Tambi or Anak Denal. I studied in Silat Primary (I) Red in 1966. After getting beaten up by a gang for fighting with a School bully, my dad who worked with PWD moved me to Blakang Mati Primary Integrated School. The school was later renamed Sentosa Primary School when the name of the Island was changed to Sentosa to attract tourism an initiative by our Minister Goh Keng Swee. Albert
I vaguely remember visiting this Maritime Museum on Sentosa in the late 1990’s (or perhaps it was around 2000-01 – in which case it would have been just before it closed. I remember how empty and deserted the place was. Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but an old lighthouse lens (I beleive it was the former Fullerton lighthouse) was on display at this Museum.
Hi, I am looking for people who have studied in the primary school during the period of 1965 to 1974. I am conducting an interview to contribute a page of it to the e-book for SG50. It will be part of a gift to Singapore from the school. Please email me at chewkangwei@nv.edu.sg. I will contact you soon. Much thanks!!
The maritime muzeum was formerly Sentosa pri sch, before that it’s Blakang Mati intergrated pri sch. I am from that era.
Hi Muda, Can i check which period are you studying in the primary school? Are you able to share with me any photos taken in the past? Do let me know.
I lived on Pulau Brani as an army child and went to the school on Blakang Mati until it moved to Pulau Brani about 1959.
Do you have an email address? We have a Singapore schools reunion group.
Same as me, dad with British navy, i study at blakang mati and stay at pulau brani, to n fro using british navy ferry.
Attention Geoff Bickley.
My Dad was a Sgt to, we were there from 1950/52 so I was at that school with you. Do you remember Rodger Ellis, those old days were fantastic,
Regards, Ian
Attention Geoff Bickley, I have a copy of the Blakang Mati British army school register (from the UK National Army Museum archives) and it shows that you started at the school on 17th January 1955 and you left to go to Singapore (sadly it doesn’t show the date, though most of the other entries do). Another pupil that started at the same time as you was Hilary Brookes, who I am in touch with, and she is on our Blakang Mati school Facebook group and also on our singapore schools mailing list at singaporeschool.reunion@gmail.com (we are going back to Singapore on 30th October 2018 for a school reunion). Theresa Ayling, Jamie Banks, John Lloyd, Peter Marshall, Lois Wynn-Werninck , Howard Cross, Sally Richards and very many more. Our Facebook group has many photos or I can email them to you if you get in touch.
I FULLY ENJOYED COMMENTS FROM MANY WHO HAD BEEN TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AS MENTIONED.. GURKHAS MOVED TO BLAKANG MATI IN 1960 and my Brother-in-law was stationed there from 1962. I lived in the Army Married Quarter. I MOVED There from 1963. By then the only British Army School Children was in Pulau Brani. There was a bigger school Secondary Modern in ? Gilman Barracks. and also a Grammar school.. Later replaced by St John’s school around/near Slim Barracks
hello, may i know how did you get the 1976 street directory? i’m doing a final year project on old schools. would really appreciate your reply. thank you so much! 🙂
I purchased an old 1970’s edition Street Directory from a second hand bookstore in Singapore around 15 years ago. The book store was on a 2nd floor of a reasonably modern shopping centre, somewhere near Chinatown. I think the shopping centre was Central Mall. Not sure if the book store I still there. If not, I would try one of the other secondhand book stores in Singapore – you can google and find several.