Lee Kuan Yew’s Former Home Declared Singapore’s 77th National Monument
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Singapore, December 15, 2025 – In a move resolving a long-standing dispute, teh Singaporean government has officially designated the former residence of the nation’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, as its 77th national monument. The decision, announced jointly by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National heritage Board (NHB), recognizes the immense ancient and cultural significance of the property.
The house, located on Jalan 38 oxley road, served as Lee Kuan Yew’s private home and family residence from the 1940s until his death in 2015. However, its importance extends far beyond being simply a former family home. The government emphasizes that the building was central to pivotal moments in Singapore’s journey towards independence in the 1950s.
“This place was also the location for conversations, activities and decision-making by our founding leaders and other key figures who profoundly shaped the direction of Singapore’s independence movement and our subsequent national history,” a government statement read.
Specifically, the basement dining room frequently hosted meetings of the People’s Action Party founders – including figures like Goh Keng swee, Toh Chin Chye, and S. Rajaratnam – where crucial strategies for a newly autonomous Singapore were forged.
A Humble Yet Historically Rich Residence
Despite its modest appearance – a single-story house with a basement on a 1,250 square meter plot featuring five bedrooms – the property holds important architectural value. The building’s design reflects colonial Indian architecture from the 18th century, a style becoming increasingly rare in Singapore, with only around 200 such buildings remaining as of 2022, and just 16 sharing the same style and construction era as Lee Kuan Yew’s home. Key features include high ceilings, a Chinese-influenced tile roof, and a spacious yard designed to mitigate the tropical heat.
While currently valued at approximately SGD 17 million (IDR 219 billion), the house was originally rented by Lee Kuan Yew in 1965 for a mere SGD 118 (approximately IDR 1.5 million at current exchange rates).
The designation as a national monument ensures the preservation of this vital piece of Singaporean history for future generations. The ministerial committee involved in the decision highlighted the property’s “architectural, heritage and historical significance,” solidifying its place as a testament to the nation’s founding and advancement.
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What role did 38 Oxley road play in the formation of the People’s Action Party (PAP)?
Wikipedia‑style Context
The bungalow at 38 Oxley Road is a modest‑sized, single‑storey dwelling built in the late 1940s on a 1,250 sq m plot in the Tanglin district of Singapore. Its architecture reflects the “Colonial Indian” style that was common among elite residences in pre‑independence Singapore – characterised by high ceilings, a Chinese‑influenced tile roof, wide verandas and a spacious, shaded yard to mitigate the tropical heat. Only about 200 such structures survive today, and fewer than two dozen retain the original layout and materials of the period.
Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, first occupied the house in the early 1950s while he was a young lawyer and emerging political leader. The home became the informal headquarters of the People’s Action Party (PAP) during the 1950s and 1960s; the basement dining room hosted clandestine strategy sessions that shaped Singapore’s road to self‑governance and eventual independence in 1965. Lee continued to live there with his family until his death in 2015, making the property a living chronicle of Singapore’s political evolution.
Following Lee’s death, the residence became the centre of a high‑profile family dispute. Lee’s three children – Lee Hsien Loong (current Prime Minister), Lee Hsien Yang, and Lee Wei Ling – clashed over the future of the house, a proposed sale to the state, and the handling of Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy. The disagreement escalated into legal battles, public petitions and heated parliamentary debates between 2016 and 2023. In December 2025 the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Heritage Board (NHB) jointly declared the house Singapore’s 77th National Monument, effectively ending the stalemate and ensuring its preservation for future generations.