In Lim Chu Kang, there is a small public housing area known as Neo Tiew Estate (or Lim Chu Kang Rural Centre). The whole area was en-bloc in 2002, with the residents shifted to Jurong West. The estate was vacated since then, and is currently used for FIBUA (Fighting in Built-Up Areas) trainings by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Neo Tiew (1883 – 1975), who had the estate and road named after him, was a pioneer in the development of Lim Chu Kang. He was heavily involved in developing roads and setting up schools, power stations and clinics in the area.
Neo Tiew set up the first mini-mart called Nan He Mini-Mart at Nan He Village, Lim Chu Kang, to supply daily necessities to the families of the farmers and fishermen in the vicinity. He also established a school named Qi Hua in order to provide lower and upper Primary education for their children. For his effort and contributions, Neo Tiew received the Order of the British Empire from the colonial government.
During World War II, Neo Tiew mobilised his fellow patriots to assist the British in the defense of Lim Chu Kang and Kranji. Sadly, his entire family of 35 was killed by the Japanese in 1942, with only Neo Tiew and his fourth son managed to escape.
Built in 1979, there are three 3-storey flats in the estate, numbered 3 to 5. The abandoned flats are accompanied by a wet market and a playground. Lacking maintenance, the flats are left with dirty walls with paint peeling off and rusty windows. Overgrown bushes nearly cover the entire neighbourhood.
Visitors must exercise caution not to venture into the compound during a military drill.
One of the oldest playgrounds in Singapore can be found at Neo Tiew Estate. The ordinary-looking arc-shaped concrete structure was once used by kids as a platform for running with momentum or skateboarding. The center of the structure was previously covered with sand.
Elsewhere in Singapore, there is also a similar small housing estate at Seletar West Farmway 4 known as Jalan Kayu Rural Centre or Seletar Flats. It was built in the mid-seventies together with its more popular cousin at Seletar Road, the famous Seletar Hills Market, less than a kilometer away.
This small estate was en-bloc in 2005 and is currently used to house foreign workers. The blocks at Seletar Road was torn down in 2002, while the Seletar Hills Market was demolished three years later to make way for the new low-rise condominium Greenwich.
Published: 09 November 2010
Updated: 17 March 2012
ohhh i pass by here on my way to the goat farm quite creepy when i saw it at first
I remembered having a plate of char kuay teow there when I was a kid. Now it’s all gone. There is no place for the old in Singapore.
I just got this website from a old school freind living in AMA KENG. I live in Sungei Gedong road, NEO TIEW village, just opposite the Chinese school. And yes….I still remember the great Char Kway Teow stall at the junction of Lim Chu Kang Road and Sungei Gedong Road. I often wondered what happened to him. He used to have a sort of cart as his stall. Is that the same one as you know it ? Let me know if you know what happened to him . BTW, I am related to Neo Tiew, about 3rd generation from him, now living in the UK since 1975.
Sipped teh from a saucer in the coffeeshop here as a little boy..and played in the huge bowl-shaped sandpit..
the wanton noodle there is nice ! haha
there was a hawker centre directly opposite a mosque and the main gate of Tengah Airbase until 1999.
Hi, is it possible to enter the compound or is it fenced up?
Enter at your own risk!
The compound is only partially fenced up.. so the abandoned flats, shophouses and market are accessible
It’s occupied by SAF on some of the days
Please take care
The Neo Tiew village I know in the 1960s has no flats but just zinc roofed shophouses and other houses made of planks,attap and zinc.It was a serene village of farmers and a school called Kay Wah Chinese school Br 2.I could order a plate of char siew png for just 50 cents and it tasted heavenly.It brings back old memories everytime I pass this place.
Incidently as a teacher I taught 3 of Towkay Neo Tiew’s grandsons at Ama Keng School.
Hope you get this as I noticed your post was sometime back and I just got this link from a old friend who used to live in Ama Keng. I can’t remember the name of the school. But was that Chinese school along Sungei Gedong Road ? My mom used to teach there also and we live just across the road from the school. The headmaster, Mr Guan just passed away recently.
If you got this message, hope you will get back. Thanks.
The English school at Ama Keng is Ama Keng school. The one that mum was in was Kay wah school branch one. The one at Sungei Gedong was Kay Wah school main branch. The one in Neo tiew road was Kay Wah school branch two. The flats were built at the junction of lim chu Kang road and neo tiew road. Aunty ah kor used to live there. There was a hawker centre there. The char kuay teow that you mentioned is not the same one there. You are right, that was and still is, the best char kuay teow. I just told Kim about a week back that I have not been able to find a better char kuay teow than that. Jun wei’s nanny will probably be able to tell you what happened to the guy who ran the stall.
Still possible to enter the area ? Do we need any permission to enter.?
Yes, it’s accessible by the public but do look out for any military personnel.
Thanks. Maybe going today ^^
Is there many wild dogs? i heard from my dad that there are even wild boars! Is it safe to go alone?
Safe to roam around the compound but I won’t say the same if you want to access the flats… you won’t know if anyone is hiding in one of the units
I remembered drinking a can of coke in the coffeeshop in the 90′s. At that time the coffeeshop was still using the traditional blue colour metallic plates to cover the front of the shop when they are closed.
Could still recall ridiculously huge pigeons walking around the compound, and a large fly which landed straight into my cup of coke. Those were the days.
is there any nearest bus stop goes there?