Did you know that Singapore has its very own version of Big Ben? A National Monument that has withstood two World Wars, and seen Singapore rise from a bustling British colonial port city to the world-renowned garden city-state it is today.
The Victoria Clock Tower, standing tall and proud 54m above Empress Place, has marked the passage of time since its inauguration in 1907, when the Duchess of Connaught first set it in motion. Crafted by English clockmaker Gillett & Johnston, its four opal faces remain the largest in Singapore, while its five bells continue to sound the Westminster Chimes every 15 minutes, with a full sequence marking each hour.
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This year sees this storied landmark entering a new chapter: The Hour Glass has been named Principal Patron of Arts House Group, and, with it, comes philanthropic support to the Group’s programmes and the upkeep of the Victoria Clock Tower.
For The Hour Glass, it's a natural partnership rooted in a shared commitment to preserve heritage while advancing cultural appreciation. As Group Managing Director Michael Tay notes, the tower represents “heritage with purpose”, a philosophy that mirrors the watch retailer’s dedication to craftsmanship and the advancement of watch culture. In this context, timekeeping extends beyond its realm to be a marker of collective memory and identity instead.
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Photo: Courtesy of Arts House Group
Photo: Courtesy of Arts House Group
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The patronage also strengthens Arts House Group’s ability to steward its venues and expand its programming, from festivals to public initiatives that shape Singapore’s cultural landscape. It ensures that spaces like Victoria Theatre and Victoria Concert Hall continue to thrive as sites of artistic exchange.
Meticulously restored in recent years, the Clock Tower remains both a functioning timepiece and a living monument. Through this partnership, the tower continues to chime the legacy of a nation in motion.