1855 – 1862
Photo Credit: Royal Tropical Institute Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The Victoria Theatre, constructed between 1855 and 1862, is the older of the two buildings. Originally built as a Town Hall, its foundation stone was laid by the Governor of Singapore, Colonel W.J. Butterworth, on 17 March 1855. After its completion, it served as a venue for public meetings, dances and other social functions.
1883
Photo Credit: Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
By 1883, the town hall was unable to cope with increasing demand and offices had moved out of the town hall. It was soon converted into a theatre and renamed Victoria Theatre.
1902 – 1905
Photo Credit: Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Victoria Concert Hall (formerly Victoria Memorial Hall) was erected between 1902 and 1905 to honour Queen Victoria, who passed away in 1901.
Photo Credit: Royal Tropical Institute Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
1909
Photo Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
With the Memorial Hall’s completion, the Town Hall underwent extensive renovations to complement the former’s Victorian architectural style. In 1909, the Town Hall reopened and was renamed Victoria Theatre. The 54-metre high clock tower, which has a copper dome surmounted by a crown, joins the Theatre and the Memorial Hall together.
The first performance to be staged in the newly completed Victoria Theatre was Sirs Arthur S. Sullivan and William S. Gilbert’s well-known comic opera, The Pirates of Penzance, performed by the Singapore Amateur Dramatic Committee in 1909.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
1942 – 1947
Photo Credit: Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The Memorial Hall served as a makeshift hospital during World War II, and it was also the venue for war crime trials after the war.
Photo Credit: Lim Kheng Chye Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
1954
Photo Credit: Arthur B Reich Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) inaugural meeting took place in the Memorial Hall in 1954.
Photo Credit: Arthur B Reich Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
1958
Photo Credit: Arthur B Reich Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Singapore’s national anthem was originally composed to celebrate the re-opening of Victoria Theatre after its earlier refurbishment in the mid-1950s.
1970s
Photo Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The Victoria Memorial Hall was renovated in the 1970s to serve as a concert hall.
1979
Photo Credit: Courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
Victoria Memorial Hall was renamed the Victoria Concert Hall and named as the official home of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
2010 – 2014
Photo Credit: G P Reichelt Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore
The Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall was closed for a $158 million renovation and reopened its doors after a four-year renovation in July 2014.