Commerce and retail Raffles Place

raffles place c.1910

the area become location well-known retail stores in 19th century. john little, oldest department store, established in 1842 on commercial square. robinsons, of oldest department stores, first established on raffles place in 1858 family warehouse . robinson s later relocated few times before returning raffles place in 1891. whiteaway laidlaw first established on d almeida street in 1900 before moving stamford house, battery road in 1910. alkaff arcade, singapore s first indoor shopping arcade stretched waterfront of collyer quay raffles place, built in 1909. chinese store, oriental emporium, opened opposite robinsons in 1966.

three of tallest buildings in singapore, located @ raffles place, left right, republic plaza, uob plaza 1 , 1 raffles place. 3 280 metres in height.

the earliest banks operate in commercial square oriental bank, chartered mercantile bank of india, london , china (later absorbed hsbc), chartered bank of india, australia , china (which later became standard chartered), , asiatic banking corporation. @ turn of 20th century, banking industry in singapore took off. home-grown banks came play, competing against bigger banks lower interest rates , cultural affinity customers. 1950s, banking in singapore entered new league, bank of america establishing here in 1955 @ 31 raffles place, , bank of china @ adjacent battery road.

during world war ii, raffles place among places hit bombs when seventeen japanese bombers conducted first air raid on singapore on 8 december, 1941, during battle of malaya. japanese occupation of singapore temporarily halted near-continuous commercial development of raffles place.