Have you ever wondered why Serangoon stretches across so many neighbourhoods in Singapore?

Serangoon Road was one of the first major roads built in Singapore. A map of Singapore from 1828 described it as “the road leading across the island”. It was built as a link between the settlements in town and the Serangoon harbour, an important port on the Johor Straits.

The naming of Serangoon, and the places within it, constituted another puzzle. In archival materials, the name “Serangoon” has multiple variants including Sirangong, Seranggong, Serangon, Serangong, Saranggong and Sarangong. Some sources say the road was named after the Ranggong – a Malay name for a member of the stork species, a small marsh bird once common in the swamps of the Serangoon River (formerly the Rangon River). Others suggest that the name was derived from the Malay phrase di-serang dengan gong, meaning “to attack with gongs or drums”, a possible reference to gongs used to scare away animals from the forested area of Serangoon.

While we never uncovered a definite answer about its etymology, we discovered the rich history of the area, particularly Serangoon North. The former kampung of Hwi Yoh is one of the few areas in Singapore named after a trade. It once had a flourishing pottery industry, a rope-making factory, and tropical fish farms. Not far away, there were even crocodile farms.

Today, it continues to thrive with pet shops, singing birds and bird-lovers, and delicious local food. Above all, we have had privilege to meet a community of friendly residents who love their neighbourhood and feel their kampung spirit.