Gedung Kuning

1819:
Istana Kampung Gelam (Kampung Gelam Palace) was built by order of Sultan Hussain who was the newly instated Sultan of Johor. Singapore then was ruled by tripartite rule - the East India Company, the Sultan and the Temenggong.

1835:
Sultan Hussain passed away and his eldest son, Tengku Ali became heir to the throne. He was known as Sultan Ali.

Circa 1846:
Even though Singapore never had a Bendahara (Prime Minister), a Rumah Bendahara (House of the Prime Minister) was built for Tengku Mahmud, the younger son of Sultan Ali. Tengku Mahmud changed the name Rumah Bendahara to Gedung Kuning (the Yellow Mansion) after its yellow walls.
Gedung Kuning's land area: 13,254 square feet.

1897:
Royal family dispute ensued and the Court of Appeal held that no one could claim the property and land of Kampung Gelam.
[The case of Tengku Mahmud vs. Tengku Ali, Straits Settlements Laws Report 1897 (Vol. 5)]

Straits Settlements Statutory Land Grant No. 18322

1907:
Gedung Kuning was mortgaged by Tengku Mohamed Bin Sultan Ali to R.M.P.S Annamalay Chitty.*

30 July 1912:
Haji Yusoff bin Haji Mohamed Noor (also known as Hadjee Eusope Bin Hadjee Mohamed Noor) bought Gedung Kuning from R.M.P.C Mootiah Chitty.*

2 May 1919:
Haji Yusoff sold Gedung Kuning to Choo Sow San.*

28 July 1925:
Haji Yusoff bought Gedung Kuning back from Oei Tjong Swan and Ho Kien Hwa Neo.*

1925 - 1999:
Haji Yusoff’s family stayed in Gedung Kuning.

12 March 1999:
Government announced plans to convert the Istana Kampung Gelam and Gedung Kuning into a Malay Heritage Centre. Istana Kampung Gelam will be turned into a museum whereas Gedung Kuning will be turned into a gallery restaurant.

11 September 1999:
Gedung Kuning was acquired under the Land Acquisition Act and now belonged to the Singapore Government. Haji Yusoff’s descendants who were staying in Gedung Kuning had to leave the mansion.

1999 - 2003:
Gedung Kuning underwent restoration.

27 Dec 2003:
Tepak Sireh Restoran at Gedung Kuning was officially opened by Associate Professor Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister in-charge of Muslim Affairs.

*Information taken from Statutory Land Grant No: 16944