SAFRA (Singapore Armed Forces Reservist Association) was formed as early as 1972 to provide recreational, educational and sports facilities for reservists or NSmen (Operational Ready National Servicemen) and their families, so as to improve morale and cohesiveness among the members.
Former Defence Minister of Singapore Dr Goh Keng Swee was the first chairman, and the first SAFRA clubhouse was temporarily situated at Prince Edward Lane, using the former premise of a Scandinavian religious place known as the Norwegian Seamen’s Mission Home.
SAFRA welcomed its first permanent clubhouse in 1975 with the completion of the $2 million building at Toa Payoh. In 1982, the second clubhouse was officially opened at Bukit Merah.
Perhaps the most iconic feature of the Bukit Merah SAFRA was the dummy soldier doing repelling at the top of the building.
In 2004, after 23 years of services, the clubhouse was closed down and replaced by the nearby Mount Faber SAFRA. It has since been left abandoned with no concrete redevelopment plans.
Today, there are six SAFRA clubs located at Toa Payoh, Jurong, Mount Faber, Yishun, Tampines and Carpenter Street, serving some 200,000 members.
Published: 28 July 2011
Well, it turns out that the entire piece of land on which the old SAFRA Bukit Merah has been sitting on will be developed into a hotel.
Not feeling really nostalgic as I was never a SAFRA member (despite coaxing from friends and cold calls from the SAFRA marketing department), but I understand the emotions involved.
Now, only Queensway Shopping Centre remains as the relic that bears testament to the older Queensway.
Thanks for the update..
Doesn’t seem like the best place to build a hotel there, but I guess the land is valuable (as always)
I remember going there when I was in my sec sch days in the 90s for wall climbing lessons. It was fun. Then a few years ago when I started working at Bukit Merah, my bus would pass by there. I was saddened to see that building has closed down. A notice on the gate saying that the building is suitable for hotel redevelopment. I don’t think up til now anybody bothers to buy it.
I hope the opposite Queensway Shopping Centre will not be demolished too
Hi, i just passed by this place today, and apparently its being demolished already >: the part of the building in the 2nd picture is already…knocked away T_T
it’s being tear down recently … only went the arcade there b4 …