Boon Lay History, Singapore

Boon Lay is actually a city produced by the labors and hardship of one of the town’s most significant clan.  Patterned from Chew Boon Lay’s popularity, this city became the end result of the efforts of this businessman.  This family did not merely saw things through for Boon Lay but for the entire Singapore as well.

This very prominent figure was said to be responsible in boosting the economy of Singapore.  He was a dedicated person who passed on his love for his craft to his descendants.  Aside from concentrating on rubber making, Chew Boon Lay also made a living from biscuit manufacturing.

His significance in Boon Lay, Singapore’s history marked the beginning of a new town.  Much of this place’s roads, bus stations and other establishments bear the name of this remarkable individual.  Even schools and swimming areas bear the name of this industrious person.

The persistence of this man which brought his family to this situation right now, made the town benefit as well.  There are around 800 descendants bearing the name Boon Lay and all areas of the place had been covered.  Education, economy and politics are but just some of the few sections where a Boon Lay successor excels.

Chew Boon Lay established a very good opportunity for business in the area.  Aside from giving a name to the rubber and biscuit industries, soap factories were also seen.  He also acquired the southern portion of the place for his pepper plants.  Between the 1940’s and the 1950’s though, said land was purchased by the government.  Now, it is the ground where the Jurong Industrial Estate is now gaining cognizance.

The rubber plantation was the reason behind the establishment of the Boon Lay village.  Previously, though, most of the land was made of swamp.  It was only in the early 1960’s when industrialization became a focus of the place.  To its name, Boon Lay was chosen by the Singapore government to be the first industrial estate in the country.  The first factory built within its vicinity is the so-called National Iron and Steel Mills which started its stint in September 1, 1962.

Civilization may not have been experienced by Boon Lay on the onset of its introduction as a town.  It was more of a boundary town because of the roads it have.  Before, the famous bus interchanges was the only one considered to be its pride.

Around a decade after 1996, it is now fully modernized.  As evidence to this, most of its community centers, libraries and art centers were blessed to have the latest in technology.  The then famous Boon Lay Bus Interchange will be reconstructed to pave a way to a bigger shopping mall.

Industrialization is one of the focuses of Boon Lay to date.  Its very humble beginning is now trying to reach out to the public.  Tourists will truly be endeared with this place in no time.