Places of interest

SENTOSA

The area selected for the construction of Fort Siloso was at the western point of Blakang Mati. Lt. H.E. McCallum, Royal Engineers and a workforce comprising of local people began preparing the site for Fort Siloso in 1874. British, in the days of Queen Victoria, came to Singapore to take advantage of its strategic location to enhance their trade with China. This location would give the new fort a commanding position at the western entrance to Keppel Harbour. The western approach to the harbour is said to had been 'discovered' in 1848 by Admiral Sir Henry Keppel sailing in HMS Meander. There is, however, extremely good evidence that this entrance was known of by the seamen of the east for a significant period of time before Admiral Keppel came on the scene.