Singapore's St John's Island: from quarantine to leisure destination | The Islands That Made Us

Singapore's St John's island carries a grim past - it used to be one of the largest quarantine stations of the British empire, where people coming down to Singapore would have to stay for a short while before they were allowed onto the mainland.
The island then went on to be an opium treatment centre, followed by a drug rehabilitation centre.
Today, the idyllic St John's island houses holiday chalets, where Singaporeans can escape the hustle and bustle of city life.
Watch the full programme: cna.asia/islands-that-made-us
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ABOUT THE SHOW: Up till the 1970s, Singapore's southern islands had vibrant island communities with unique identities. But today, names like Pulau Tekukor and Pulau Seringat have become largely unfamiliar to Singaporeans. Likewise, while reclamation has increased Singapore's land area by 25% in the last 200 years, some islands like Pulau Seking have been merged with other islands, and their names are now confined to history. But there is still much to be learnt from the 40-plus islands that make up Singapore today, and the people passionate about them.
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[@irenelim7981]

I was born in St John's Island n I missed my childhood days.

[@snakepitsam]

@Johnston Steiner wtfbbq haha

[@howtogetrich888]

@Johnston Steiner Fking ang mo Hahahaha

[@michaeltham9914]

It's bring back memories during 1980 my secondary school days where we have combine schools activities held in St John's Island. 👍👍👍

[@zandrakoon4651]

Thanks CNA for sharing the history of St. John & Lazarus island during British colonial period. Only visited St. John island once or twice. This video brought fond memories 😄

[@deniseh3519]

Love the heritage, history and people behind these beautiful islands... looking forward to the walking tours cos one would fully appreciate these island without knowing their interesting past.

[@littlejourney3178]

I never knew that singapore have some tiny islands...wow .. It looks beautiful

[@skyler1665]

fun fact: there are 63 islands in singapore

[@namso349]

St John Island original name was Pulau Sakijang Bendera. Lazarus Island original name was Pulau Sakijang Pelepah. Why were they renamed to names that have nothing to do with Singapore's history? Not even mentioned in the video. I remember going there in mid 1970s during school excursion. Felt like going overseas. The villagers sold sea shell as crafts to supplement their incomes. Sweet memory during childhood days. 😊😊😊

[@nananur9]

My family would always come over to St.John island to stay over at the chalet. It is a yearly thing!! But sadly we don't do it as much now. The place is really clean and the beach is better as compared to East coast park

[@muhdshuhairi609]

I went to St john's island, then crossed to Lazarous island to fish last year

[@LimMuji]

kudos _ such narrative docs ae really gd to live a cultural heritage . add to building singapore history that future generations should know

[@sitinursalamahsalamah7031]

Please more for story..save history...

[@VickiRynnn]

Wonderful discovery.

[@BLOCKEDNEWSPH]

I'll try to visit here.. good for adventure.

[@andii256]

i’ve been to st. john’s and lazarus twice. once to visit the research centre, another time for leisure. i heard from researchers there barely anyone ever stays overnight.

[@860623496517]

Jungle = Orang Bunian = Ghost Resident = Dont disturb

[@user-lb4gy4xy1u]

Really Amazing St John's island 😘🥰🥰😍😍

[@Vildeken]

Bad time to be bumping into this video as it will take a time before being able to go. Very interesting!

[@balasubramaniam2436]

Wow, I didn’t knew much about these Island till I watch this video. Thanks for sharing and hopefully we could watch more related history story on SINGAPORE Islands 😀

[@channelnewsasia]

do check out our Singapore islands playlist to discover more little known places: kzbin.info/aero/PLbnMTcZEga8T3ikQ7DjUYSCUdYDOXAAfY

[@medialcanthus9681]

My great grandfather was a quarantine officer on st John's Island.

[@NicO-cm2xo]

More dark stories about these islands please

[@jielcm2726]

Talking about post covid era now can do quarantine again back to SJI

[@yut576]

islands among the island

[@bowlampar]

Many greenery in southern island compare to the 'concrete jungle' main island , need to preserve it natural setting with legislative measure before it loses them all in the future due to limited expansion space in main island for commercial interests.

[@justcreatesg]

It will be getting famous now. I have footages of this too 😁

[@abdullahhakan1]

I wish to live and work in Singapore, love the hot weather, lush green pasture, hard working citizens and expats. Singapore is really harsh competitive society with 45 extremely richest men and women on earth. 4 hours flight to Darwin Australia, 2 hours flight to Bangkok, Hong Kong.

[@gohjiayi5521]

Heard a lot of haunted experiences from my friends that came to st john for poly camps esp about the stairs and the human chessboard... don't think i'll ever go there HAHA

[@SyafriMukhrizal]

Pretty much island in around..

[@NEPtune-fy1ug]

wah convenient... how bout from quarantine to leisure destination and back to quarantine HAHA

[@GKP999]

If I could, I would rather live on one of these islands than on the mainland.

[@melcatley3437]

I visited a few years ago and fed the cats, but I read they are gone now?

[@gerolaguna7972]

This is like the CULION island of the Philippines. It's seclusion and isolation. Now it's beautiful and unique.

[@Highway541]

Yes and culion is where my fathers hometown

[@paparoti4006]

The villagers , our Brothers and Sisters were forced and threatened to leave the islands back in the 70s. Pioneer generations will know the true story.

[@mokeyhorsefish]

Please share with us what happened? I'm really curious to know the truth that they have hid from us...

[@jay0787]

@@mokeyhorsefish Basically Singapore needed more development, and the islands were used for other purposes to boost the economy or help Singapore's problems. Keep in mind that the offshore islands had their own communities, and the government didn't want people to get involved in the new usage of these islands, so they had to relocate. Some examples of islands used are Pulau Tekong, for the army, Pulau Semakau for an offshore landfill area, Pulau Belakang Mati, which is Sentosa, and the former 7 islands used to form the current Jurong Island. Islands like St John's and Lazarus also lost their residents as the government wanted to market these islands for the tourism industry, which plays an essential role in Singapore's economy. However, they wanted the islands to still retain it's original "island aesthetic", rather than becoming alternative Sentosas (mostly because the public hated the idea of the islands becoming amusement parks and resort islands). Examples of those sort of islands include St John's, Lazarus, Kusu and Pulau Ubin.

[@ajulianto2215]

how to get there please?

[@andii256]

A Julianto take ferry from marina south pier. ferry timings can be found online

[@ajulianto2215]

@@andii256 thank you

[@anasqai]

Hear of it being $20/day for 1 bunk-size camping. If they never opium before why have such treatment is odd, does it mean like a "treatment-label" = higher freedom in life? People that opium will definitely love it to wish for nothing of it is a creation of "the identity". Poppy, poppers, and then "heroin" are 3 different thing definitely.

[@adijayaification]

😮

[@caialan9491]

We should quarantine Covid-19 patients here

[@howtogetrich888]

Been there, very hot and full of mosquitoes and bugs. And you have to bring your own water because there is no shop on the island. Bring enough water will be a heavy burden on your shoulders. The view is limited to the beach that's all. I don't on't recommend. The ferry cost 18 each person, sentosa will be a much better choice guys

[@zedking1648]

St. Jhon iis were the people has disease stayed or quarantined the other migrants that why there are so many big box of wire my employer say

[@dexterkun4307]

Not much things to see for adventurers

[@masim9909]

Masih bagusan indonesia boss

[@akukamu2291]

Melati Daeva Oktavianti ye laa ...Indonesia hebat, mantap dan terbaik... #donepuji

[@azack3987]

Indonesia MENDUNIA. Satu dunia tahu MENDUNIA sungguh Indonesia. #donemendunia

[@masim9909]

@@@azack3987 Malingsiall

[@sudisudi_]

Iya dan Filipina juga

[@degreatal]

overpoud gila