Younger readers would probably be unfamiliar with the name, Nam Sang Hua Yan, but would know it by it’s common name today – Whampoa Gardens. Whampoa Gardens was an actual garden space used by the Chinese community for Chinese New Year celebrations, and was owned by the man himself, Whampoa Hoo Ah Kay. Besides the gardens, the other landmark in the area was Hoo Ah Kay’s palatial mansion, Bendemeer House.
Laokokok’s father used to live just a few doors down from the Bendemeer House, but by this time ownership had changed hands:
In fact when my father was staying at 922 Serangoon Road (around 1940s to 60s) , the Whampoa’s House was already sold to Mr. Seah Liang Seah in 1880. Mr. Seah Liang Seah was a respected member of the Chinese community. The Liang Seah Street was named after him!
Mr.Seah renamed the house as “Bendemeer House”, “明丽园”. I believed the English name “Bendemeer” was translated from the Chinese name “明丽园” (probably from Teochew dialect). The Municipal Council named the road nearby Bendemeer Road because of his numerous contribution to the community. Sad to say even after the name changed, the estate was still popularly known as “Nam Sang Hua Yuan”, ”南生花园”.
Today, the Bendemeer House is no more, but you can read about Whampoa’s Gardens in Laokokok’s post here. For more information about Whampoa Hoo Ah Kay, click here.
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