The Quarries

Taken from Edmund Waller (2001) "Landscape Planning in Singapore"

Granite has been exploited since the earliest colonial days and was once quarried for the construction of lighthouses. Both the Raffles and Horsburg lighthouses were built of Ubin granite. At a later time, the quarries were of significance in providing aggregate for roads and concrete during the intensive government building programme of the 1960s.


The Ubin Quarry - by NT

It was the strikes of Singapore's quarry workers that persuaded the Housing Development Board (HDB) to open their own quarries in Ubin so that they could be sure of regular supplies. Now, however, granite can be easily obtained from elsewhere in the region where the labour costs are lower, and so quarrying will soon cease at Ubin. (Editor's note: The last active quarry, Aik Hwa Quarry, has already ceased operation.)

The abandoned quarries remain unused and officially out of bounds. They provide a potential source of fresh water and additional opportunities for recreation, but dangers of unsupervised swimming have unfortunately barred public access.

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References:

Waller, Edmund (2001) "Landscape Planning in Singapore" (Singapore: Singapore University Press) pp.165-171

Animals of Ubin

Edmund Waller (2001) "Landscape Planning in Singapore" reports:

"With regard to the fauna of Pulau Ubin, this is of greater national importance with several species rare or absent from the mainland. These include wild pigs and the leopard cat. In recent years, there has been a visit from a wild elephant and unconfirmed reports of a tiger.

The recent appearance of elephants at Ubin and Pulau Tekong, whose presence had never been recorded, has added to the island's reputation as a last wild frontier."

Editor's note: However, we now know that the reports of the tiger was probably untrue and of course the recent sightings of Otters reported throughout the island. Of course let's not forget the avifauna of the island such as the Jungle Fowl amongst other rare species of birds.

Updated (and possibly incomplete) checklist.

• Leopard Cat
  
• Wild boar
  
• Smooth-Coated Otter
  
• Oriental Small-clawed otters
  
• Macaques
  
• Elephants (Non Resident)
  
• Tapir (Non Resident)
  
• Deers (extinct)
  
• Tigers (extinct)
  

Pulau Ubin has truly become the "last wild frontier" as deforestation continues in our neighboring countries which used to be the animal's refuge. However, with the lost of habitats, the animals such to seek other sanctuaries and the undeveloped island of Ubin becomes refuge for animals (and humans!). Not only has the example of the elephant proven so but the recent increase in animals found on the island such as the appearance of the Otters has also strengthen this hypothesis. Thus, it becomes increasingly important to further restore the island habitat, in addition to maintaining the island as it is.

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References:

Waller, Edmund (2001) "Landscape Planning in Singapore" (Singapore: Singapore University Press) pp.165-171

Pulau Ubin headman celebrates turning 100

April 3, 2005 (Straits Times)
By Sharlene Tan

MR LIM Chye Joo, Pulau Ubin headman and probably the island's oldest resident, celebrated his 100th birthday yesterday at his home, surrounded by family and friends.

Special guest at the party was Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Speaker of Parliament and an MP for East Coast GRC, who first met Mr Lim about 10 years ago.

Mr Lim, who is wheelchair-bound, looked happy as more than 50 family members and guests sang Happy Birthday and helped him blow out the 10 candles perched on a frosted pink cake.

He has been living on Pulau Ubin since he arrived from China nearly 70 years ago and has eight children.

His granddaughter, Ms Lim Mui Hoon, 25, told The Sunday Times: 'He's very happy. He's been looking forward to this event for quite a while.'

Mr Abdullah, who attended the lunch party with his wife and some grassroots leaders, said: 'He's a very warm man and well-respected. He's always been supportive of grassroots activities and it's not every day that one reaches such an age.'

Mr Lim was the former chairman of the management committee of the Pulau Ubin community centre, which closed in 2003.

He used to rear pigs and chickens on a plot of land near his house and also ran a provision shop on the island.

His fourth son, 64-year-old Lim See Hai, told The Sunday Times his father had always been active in the community.

'He likes to help out and neighbours would always come to him with their problems, whether big or small.'

Despite his advanced age, he said his father is in good health, although he is weak and has difficulty speaking.

The elder Mr Lim, whose own parents also lived long lives, is looked after by two of his sons, their wives and a maid. Other family members visit on the weekends.

Ms Lim spent her childhood on the island, moving to the mainland at the age of 18.

She returns to the island every Sunday. 'I feel more relaxed when I'm here. Maybe that's why my grandfather can live such a long life,' she said.

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Primary Production on Ubin

The existance of the natural resources of Pulau Ubin has meant that the land uses differed from the mainland of Singapore because the island was used mainly for primary production activities such as fishing, agriculture or quarrying. Socially, there is also a difference because the island has been cut off from the mainstream of Singapore life generally.

Before the currentt boom in weekend recreation, there were four traditional land uses as follows:

The Quarries

Aquatic land uses

Farmlands and old plantations

Settlements and associated land uses.

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References:

Waller, Edmund (2001) "Landscape Planning in Singapore" (Singapore: Singapore University Press) pp.165-171

Cicadas sighting

A photo of the cicada exoskeleton moults on Ubin. Taken by Chim Chee Kong, hosted on Habitatnews's flickr account.

Recently cicada moults were sighted on the northern parts of Ubin near the prawn ponds of Sungei Besar on the way to Noordin Beach.

Read more about it on Habitatnews

Here's an extract of the report from Chim Chee Kong (as reported on Habitatnews)

"Hi Siva,

I was cycling in Pulau Ubin on Good Friday (25 Mar 2005) when I saw a hundred or more (could be in the hundreds!) moulted exoskeletons of cicadas left behind on tree trunks (e.g. Angsana) and underside of leaves (e.g. Rubber).

I could not see the cicadas themselves (except for one that was left behind), but they were making deafening music all around me!

The exact location is a shaded area on gravel path after the "3 bridges" (a Pedal Ubin term referring to the area between Sungei Besar and the prawn ponds) leading to Jalan Noordin.

Cheers,
Chee Kong"