In the early 20th Century, District 3 was primarily made up of fruit and vegetable plantations. Local government officials saw very little need to develop this region until a huge influx of British expatriates started coming in due to dramatic changes in colonial rule. Housing had to be developed for living quarters and offices, and these structures are still standing today. You can recognize them by their colonial architecture, which reflects that time period. 

District 3 is now fully developed and serves as a major residential area that can be seen by a wide variety of amenities and conveniences surrounding the area. This is why there has been so much interest in District 3 among people looking to buy property. In 2012 a record price of $1,000,000 was paid for a Housing Development Board (HDB) unit on Mei Ling Street in Queenstown. Also, there are many desirable condominiums located near MRT Stations, which include The Crest and Alex Residences, both within walking distance of Redhill MRT.

Queenstown

Among all the development projects that have been built in District 3, Queenstown stands out because it’s named in memory of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation, when Singapore was a British colony. This was the first area chosen for residential development as a test for public housing, and subsequently the first town to be developed. 

Today Queenstown has an abundance of amenities, including restaurants and eateries like Hai Kee Teochew Cha Kway Teow, Golden Crown Restaurant and Brazilian Restaurant. There are also a number of clubs and community centres surrounding Queenstown that offer residents, young and old, a nice variety of interesting leisure activities. Among them you have the Leng Kee Community Centre, the Queenstown Community Centre, and the Queenstown Townclub. 

Alexandra, Commonwealth

Alexandra is the community connecting Pasir Panjang with River Valley Road. The name is in honour of King-Emperor Edward VII’s consort, Queen Alexandra. In the 1950s, the area was filled with plantations, but subsequently became a hub for prominent businesses like Anchor Brewery, Singapore Steam Laundry, and Singapore Cold Storage. Alexandra is also home to Alexandra Hospital, which was built to treat military personnel in 1930s. Today Alexandra, Commonwealth is primarily known for its industrial developments like Alexandra Technopark and Alexandra Distripark.