Queenstown has been growing by leaps and bounds, which is no surprise when you consider it's the home of a plethora of facilities like Mediapolis, Fusionopolis and Biopolis. And close by are companies such as the Defense Science & Technology Agency, DSO National Laboratories and Reuters Singapore at the Singapore Science Park. 

Singapore Improvement Trust established Queenstown in the 1950s, naming it after Queen Elizabeth II to highlight her coronation ceremony in 1953. It was Singapore's first satellite town and quickly became the country's most recognized residential community.  

The site was once a swampland between a cemetery and rubber plantations. But, after the SIT began its development and the Housing Development Board took over in the 1960s, it became the first residential community the Singapore government designed for public housing. The area is now dotted with numerous condos and HDB estates. 

Today, it's home to nearly 95,000 residents, and its numerous amenities and facilities ensure it will see even more growth in the coming years. Residents of Queenstown are a diverse mix of young families and senior citizens who love seeing children of all ages participate in neighbourhood activities like Chinese chess and talent shows. 

 

Queenstown Residential/Personal Life 

The Queenstown region has been broken down into 13 subzones, which ensures more efficient planning and governing. Some of these zones include Commonwealth, Holland Drive, Queensway, Dover and Tanglin Drive. 

One of the most popular HDB apartments is the Forfar Heights. First developed in 1956 as a 14-storey building, it was redeveloped in 1996. Today, it's made up of two 40-storey buildings and three 30-storey ones. Sticking to its previous architecture, the roofs are outfitted with blue floodlights.

Queenstown is also the site of many condos such as Commonwealth and Queen's Towers, which provide spectacular views of the country's skyline. Other condos include The Anchorage and Alexis. 

Queenstown's educational system is considered one of the best in the country, with many respected and prominent institutions. This high-quality education may be one of the many reasons why people with children are moving into the area. After all, parents want to give their children the very best of everything. What are some of the schools available in Queenstown?

• Primary Schools – New Town Primary School, Queenstown Primary School and Tanglin Trust Primary School 
• Secondary Schools – Clementi Town Secondary School, Queenstown Secondary School and Queensway Secondary School 
• Higher Education Schools – MDIS, National Institute of Education, NYU Tisch School of the Arts Asia and Singapore Polytechnic 

There are also several international and business schools in the community, such as:

• United World College of South East Asia
• Tanglin Trust School
• ESSEC Business School
• Global Indian International School

The area also offers two community libraries – Alexandra Community Library and Queenstown Community Library – that the public, especially students, can access and spend time in. 

Religion is also an important part of many Queenstown residents. The community offers places of worships of various religions such as Queenstown Baptist Church, Masjid Jamase Queenstown and Tiong Ghee Temple. 

And no residential area is complete without some place to turn for medical attention. Queenstown has three medical centers residents can turn to when they have emergent and non-emergent needs – Alexandra Hospital, Camden Medical Center and Gleneagles Hospital. 

 

Fun and Entertainment 

Queenstown offers a lot in the way of entertainment – from shopping to restaurants to community centers to parks. Whether it's a couple's night out or a fun time with the kids, Queenstown has it all, and yet another reason people are moving here!

The community offers many shopping malls for shopping lovers. Queensway Shopping Center, which opened in 1976, has been regarded as the place to go for all shopping needs. In fact, many people throughout Singapore and other countries come to it for its cheap but high-quality products such as shoes, sports equipment, clothing, etc. 

Anchorpoint Shopping Center is another place that people will head to. It was recently redesigned to offer various shopping choices that include spa services, high-quality fashions, restaurants and even grocery stores. Flower lovers can check out the area's largest florists – Far East Flora. The shop can put together various arrangements and bouquets for whatever occasion you need them for. Regardless of what flowers you want, Far East Flora can provide it. 

When you're tired of shopping or just want something to eat, Queenstown offers various choices of many cuisines. You can enjoy foods from the more expensive restaurants or partake in any one of the hawker food centers around.  

Bear in mind that expensive doesn't always mean expensive in Queenstown. Granted, at a restaurant, you'll pay more than you would at the hawker centers, but that's really to be expected.

You can taste all kinds of local cuisines at Hawker centers like Alexandra Village Food Center and Mei Ling Market for a reasonable price. You can find hidden gems at shopping centers such as the Janggut Laksa inside Queensway Shopping Center.  For those looking for more European foods, visit IKEA for its pasta and Swedish meatballs. Other places to try in Queenstown include:

• Golden Crowne Restaurant
• Hai Kee Teochew Cha Kway Teow
• Rio Brazilian Restaurant

Whether you're looking for fun outside or inside, Queenstown has it for you. If you enjoy hanging out in nature, you can spend time at the Kent Ridge Park or Haw Par Villa, which are considered cultural parks. 

• For example, Kent Ridge Park is where one of the last World War II Singapore battles took place. It's loaded with history for those who love revisiting the past. 
• Haw Par Villa takes visitors on a journey of Chinese folklore. There are more than 1,000 statutes and 150 giant dioramas that are indicative of Chinese legends and mythology. Some of the effigies are pretty horrific and can be frightening to young children. 

If you're more of an active person than an explorer, you can check out the Queenstown Sports Complex and Queenstown ActiveSG Stadium, which includes a diving pool.  Other places to go include:

• Greenleaf View Park
• Leng Kee Community Center
• Queenstown Community Center
• Queenstown Townclub 

 

HDB Resale Flats Prices in Queenstown

Queenstown HDB Resale Flat Prices
Flat type	Average Price
1-room	N/A
2-room	$246,000
3-room	$348,000
4-room	$698,000
5-room	$833,000
Executive	$1,003,000
Multi-Generation	N/A

Source: HDB resale price index portal, average transaction prices, June 2019 to June 2020

Of all the mature estates in the heartland, Queenstown has the highest HDB resale prices, with the average price of a 4-room flat approaching $700,000. If you have plenty of money, you may as well enjoy it. Queenstown is the first satellite town established in Singapore and where the country's first HDB flats were built on Stirling Road.