Saint Xavier’s Lane, past and present

Found this 1964 photo of Saint Xavier’s Lane, a small road off Upper Serangoon Road.

Credit: Ministry of Information and the Arts Collection, courtesy of National Archives of Singapore.

At the time, the area was rural, and the road was just a dirt track. The men were members of the Urban and Rural Services Consultative Committee, on a visit to Ponggol (Punggol) constituency.

The same area today, 57 years later.

Credit: Google Maps.

This part of Ponggol constituency is now Hougang town (Ponggol constituency used to stretch from present-day Hougang town to Sengkang and Punggol towns.) Dense bush and grass have been replaced by proper pavements and curbs. The single-storey houses in the background have been replaced by luxurious private homes. But Saint Xavier’s Lane has survived.