Opened in 1952, Yan Kit Swimming Complex was the second public swimming facility in Singapore, after Mount Emily Swimming Complex at Upper Wilkie Road, which was opened in 1931 and closed some time after 1982.
Located at Yan Kit Road and opposite Tanjong Pagar Community Club, the swimming complex as well as the road were named after Chinese pioneer and dentist Look Yan Kit (1849 – 1931).
The complex, owned by Singapore Sports Council (SSC), was closed in 2001 after a spike in maintenance fees due to a dramatic decline in the attendance of swimmers.
The once-popular swimming complex has three pools in a row, namely the adult pool, the children pool and the diving pool. There are also a single-storey clubhouse and three small blocks for changing rooms and bathrooms.
When it was opened in the fifties, the entry price was 15c, and it got so popular that swimmers were given a time limit of two hours in the pools.
The lifeguard on duty watched over the swimmers at the tower between the children pool and the diving pool. There are three diving platforms at the end of the diving pool, where the water measured 3m deep.
In the past when the society was still relatively conservative, Yan Kit Swimming Complex was opened to only female swimmers on Tuesdays.
The building at the end of the adult pool has its wall painted with maritime designs, such as fishes, mermaid, sea turtle, octopus and seahorses.
After abandoned for a decade, there are some debates recently on whether the complex should be renovated and reopened to the public. Most residents living in Tanjong Pagar support the reopening of the complex in a conducted survey, but the high costs may put off some of the private developers.
Another old swimming pool that was demolished recently was River Valley Swimming Complex. It was built by the Singapore City Council at a cost of $520,000, and was completed in 1959. As River Valley developed into a commercial belt with offices and shopping malls, the swimming pool became under-utilised, resulting in its closure in April 2003. It was eventually torn down to make way for a carpark in 2011.
Elsewhere in Changi, there is also an abandoned sports complex. It was formerly owned by the Singapore International Airlines (SIA) and the complex was known as SIA Group Sports Club.
Located at a quiet Turnhouse Road, the sports complex was opened in 1982, and was SIA Group Sports Club’s third location, having shifted from St Wilfred Road and Paya Lebar Airport in the seventies. Its unique dome shaped lobby even won a prize for architecture design.
In 2006, SIA Group Sports Club shifted to their fourth and latest location at Upper Changi Road East, opposite SIA Training Center. This 24-year-old sports complex was thus handed over to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), and with no plans in mind, it was left vacant for years.
Published: 30 April 2011
Updated: 22 February 2011
Hi there..
Can we actually go in there? Or is the place locked?
I enjoy taking old school places photography..
Just wondering if its possible.
Hope to hear from you.
Good day!
Hi Joanne, I’m afraid it’s locked and anyone who attempts to sneak in will have to risk trespassing…
but you can take clear pictures of the swimming pool from the nearby flats
Trespassing aside, you can jump in from the adjacent carpark at level 3 at tanjong pager plaza and take all the photos you want, as for you escape, you can push the giant plastic bin up against a fence without barbed wires facing the community centre. I went in once with a couple of friends to take photos and its quite rewarding considering there’re very few places like this left in S’pore. Hope it helps!
We used to visit this pool for our swimming sessions during my days at Gan Eng Seng School. Must say first time I used it, it reminded me of the 60s.
I still find it funny. I grew up in Queenstown, but instead of learning how to swim at the Queenstown pool, I learnt swimming at Yan Kit!?
LOL!
Hey!
I grew up in Queenstown and studied at Queenstown Pri then at Gan Eng Seng School AND i remember the swimming lessons in Sec School was conducted at Yan Kit pool. Though that was in 1992, when i was in Sec1.
me too, learnt to swim at Yan Kit. When studying in Gan Eng Seng School, i remember the ang mo swimming teacher was very on, that how we learn to swim fast and build up good stamina. He even force us to dive down from the higher platform. when you swim and reach the end of pool, he will run over and step your hand, made sure you don’t rest too long, that how i got my good stamina, i like those day….
The swimming team used to train there.(1971). While the others would settle their score at the park just next to the Swimming pool. A few of us event joint the water polo team ! I was personally robbed twice there. It will be sad to see it go. So much memories.
Looked at this pic remind me The Big Slash At East Coast… Are u Able To Do Bis Splash Article..? Love Ur Pages…
Thanks..
Big Splash was briefly mentioned at 100 Things We Love About The 80s (Part 2).
I loved that place too
oh man that SIA club brings back memories! both my parents worked for SIA so i got to go there fairly frequently..
they used to have a diving board at the other end of the pool, opposite the toilets/changing rooms.. there was also a snooker/billiards room on the 2nd floor at the right side of that last photo. with a canteen below it.. oh yah my dad always hanged out at the slots machine while i went swimming.. lol
I used to train competitive swimming in the 1960′s at Yan Kit! The instructor’s daughter was our “marker” as she was the fastest swimmer there – I think the instructor’s name was Mr Loh, who might have been a lifeguard there as well. Trained with a wimp named Anthony, who kept saying he couldn’t swim anymore. Our warm-up was 32 laps, followed by 50 and 100m sprints. Loved the mee siam after training!
Anyone else from that era train there?
Hi, any write up on the old saf nco club at beach road?
Hi Nairda, will try my best to do a research on that
It’s like fighting against time, I still haven’t visited the Changi Commando Barracks, old Serangoon Bus Interchange and Old School @Mount Sophia, which may be torn down soon
I totally agree , before we know it, nothing will be left. Great job and kudos to you.
I learnt to swim at Yan Kit.
Heard that Yan Kit Swimming Complex is under demolition since last week..
Hello,
how to get to the SIA group sports club?
Hi, it’s located at Turnhouse Road, near Changi Village. You can get there via Loyang Avenue or by Bus 29.
omg me and my friends tresspassed into sia sports club. got caught by aetos lo. i mean srsly its really amazing to see the older parts of singapore . but sadly they are demolishing it. thanks for making this website . contact me if you wana go adventuring,
Wah!! That’s interesting! N I thought since it’s left vacant for this long, there won’t be anyone there. Have u trespassed into the yan kit swimming complex?
Cannot access Yan Kit anymore… It’s under demolition since early December 2011
it was falling apart 25 years ago when I was swimming there… but I love the place. I love the colours, the deep pools, even the uneven tiles. I mastered my swimming skills at Yan Kit and I wished my baby boy could have an opportunity to see this grand dame. Pity it is now dust and rubble…
Hyperlinked your article as further info to a photo of this place I shot last year: (http://azrafael.deviantart.com/art/Forlorn-Pool-270912605)
According to recent reports, Yan Kit Pool have been demolished due to structurally unsound buildings. It is sad to see another piece of Singapore’s history gone…