Capella Hotel Group is launching its first Australian branded residences in Brisbane, a 50-home development built around heritage-listed Shafston House,…
I’ve always been fascinated by conservation houses and would love to live in one. Of course, I don’t think that it would be possible, given that the ones at Emerald Hill started from about $10 million at the time of writing! When I was in Chinatown the other day doing research for my next article series (about co-living), I saw a row of residential shophouses at Blair Road that was going for “only” $ 6 million and above!
(There was even one going for $4 million-ish but I’m guessing that’s the exception and not the rule, as that plot of land is on the smaller side.)
Note: Similar to the piece I wrote on landed properties at Lucky Plaza, I’m not suggesting that $ 6 million is cheap. However, given that it’s almost half the price of the Emerald Hill properties AND you don’t seem to be paying a hefty premium for the conservation status here, I thought that the Blair Road properties were interesting and worth featuring! Moreover, despite being conserved, some properties are fairly modern and have swimming pools.
Before we start our tour, here’s the Master Plan and the map of the area, for those not familiar with Blair Road. As you can see, the landed houses here consist of 2-3 rows of properties, bounded by Kampong Bahru Road, Neil Road, Everton Road and Spottiswoode Park Road.
As shown above, the houses are sandwiched between a row of commercial shophouses, some HDB estates, a hospital, a few high-rise condos, a bus terminal and a large park (zoned as such so you don’t have to worry about it disappearing.) The land on which the bus terminal sits is subject to further planning but, for now, appears to be zoned residential. Within the landed conservation houses themselves, there are also 7 properties which are zoned as “residential with commercial at 1st storey.”
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s start our tour!
This is the Everton Park HDB next to the conservation houses. As you can see, the HDB blocks here aren’t the most modern but they have a charm of their own.Directly facing the conservation houses is the HDB’s outdoor gym.As well as a covered shelter. I walked by this area on several days, and it was never very noisy or crowded. (Based on what I saw on my walkabouts, Everton Park felt like an estate with older residents, and fewer children, compared to, say, Duxton just down the road.)Last look at the HDB estate before crossing the road to the houses. Note the small coffee shop in the background of the photo, which makes it convenient for residents at Blair Road/ Everton Road to get local food. (Although being so near to Chinatown, there’s really no lack of dining options here!)Crossing over to the conservation area – as you can see, the condos around the houses are pretty tall.Certainly much more interesting to look at than your typical cookie-cutter condo!Many houses still have beautiful original features. Judging from the modern light above the door (and the fact that some units have swimming pools inside!), it seems that, although the houses are zoned as conservation, you still have some leeway to modernise the properties to your taste.Walking down the pavement outside the landed properties. I’m not sure who owns the walkway. Do they belong to the house owners or are they considered public land – but many houses have utilised the space outside by placing some furniture and plants there.Example of a vintage table outside one of the houses.There are also some alleyways between the rows of properties.The sidewalks aren’t flat – there are some steps between certain properties, so people using wheelchairs and prams may find them slightly inconvenient.Sneak peek inside one of the units – as you can see, it can be a steep climb up to the next floor!
However, not all units are built like this. (I used to tutor a girl who lived in one of these shophouses, and her house was much more liveable as they didn’t have these steep stairs.)
Some of the houses have URA parking lots outside the properties.
However, since they’re open to all and 1st-come-1st-serve, you may not be able to park right outside your unit. (I do recall my student’s Mother saying that one of the problems you have staying in a conservation house is the lack of parking!)
Peek inside another unit.Another of the alleyways that I mentioned previously – this one has been put to good use by the residents, who’ve turned it into a mini-garden complete with a swing set!
Also, note how the house in the middle has taken advantage of the fact that there are no neighbours directly facing it and converted the solid wall into a glass one. (Conservation houses can be a bit dark, and the glass wall will help to let in more light!)
You can find some of the murals that Chinatown is famous for here. I remember thinking what a great location Blair Road is for eating out whenever I came over for tutoring in the past and even within the estate, just down Spottiswoode Park Road, you can find a few boutiques, a Kith cafe and an art gallery!
If you’re not a fan of Kith cafe, there are more choices just one row down, along Kampong Bahru Road, but I’ll show you the rest of the residential area before making my way over there.
As you can see, all the heritage houses are slightly different.Despite that, none of them looks out of place, and the area has a very harmonious look. (Also note how residents here have fewer issues with people parking outside their houses and blocking the roads, as the parking here is strictly regulated. I would know as I got a parking ticket here previously! (I did park in a designated lot but I had parked in the wrong direction. Back when I used to come here for tuition, the area was super quiet and I would be the only person parking on the road.)As shown above, even now, about 15 years later, the area isn’t super crowded and you can still find 1 or 2 empty car park lots (in the day.)Some houses are slightly elevated above street level. Whilst others are not. (Another thing that my ex-tutee mentioned about conservation housing – she had lived in several – has potential pest issues FYI.)Another beautiful piece of art within the estate.Despite the commercial units, the area feels tranquil and residential. You see people cycling around the estate and there’s not too much traffic.However, a downside is that the condos are super close to the houses, as shown above (to the left.)Moreover, because people can park right outside your front door, it somewhat spoils your view.Imagine setting up a beautiful patio like the above. Only to be facing this all day! Not exactly the most inspiring view…Some houses have also used lots of plants to create privacy screens.Whilst other units come with a front gate.Whilst these houses (with a front door but no gate) are very charming….I personally prefer the units which come with a gate, as shown above. This way, you can have an actual garden on the property!There’s even a chiropractor within the estate if you’re feeling stiff! Some people leave not just their furniture on the walkways, but their shoes too, which could potentially cause disagreements between neighbours.
Now the houses here are so beautiful, and so diverse in architectural styles (ranging from Chinese and Malay to Art Deco and Modern), that I could flood you with endless photos of the area, but I figure it’ll be more helpful to show you the rest of the neighbourhood, so I’ll just leave you with these 2 photos of the roads between the houses.
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As I mentioned previously, the roads are well-spaced and pretty quiet.(Although one of the properties has been turned into serviced apartments.)57/59 Blair Road, photographed above, is situated above the Spooner Road open car park (which is zoned residential, subject to further planning, so taller neighbours may pop up here soon.)The sheltered walkway also brings you all the way over to SGH (Singapore General Hospital) which is captured in the background of the above photo.
If you turn left at the main road above, you find a bus stop which has many bus connections: 2, 12, 54, 61, 121, 122, 124, 143, 147, 166, 167, 174, 190, 196, 197, 961 and 961M. Moreover, the nearest MRT station (Outram Park) is only an 8-minute walk away, so you can see how well-connected this residential enclave is. Another nearby MRT station, Cantonment MRT, will also be completed in 2026.
Turn right and you immediately reach a coffee shop which sells prata and Nasi Padang etc. (There were people dining there so I didn’t take a photo, so as not to intrude on their privacy.)
If you’re not keen on local food, you can also find other eateries such as this Bistrobar, an ice cream house, Canadian Pizza…
An Art Jamming Cafe.A Cheers (and 7-11 a little further down.) A Chinese restaurant. More Cafes…
There are several other eateries that I’m not showing here but I think you get the idea – there’s basically no lack of choice when it comes to food in the area!
There’s even an antique shop if you need decorations for your house!As well as art galleries to while away lazy afternoons.And a Doll House Pets grooming salon for those with 4-legged babies.
The commercial offering here is so comprehensive, I remember thinking I would like to live here when I used to come over for tuition.
The road in front of the shophouses is pretty busy, as you can see, but the row of shophouses helps to block out some of the noise for the residential properties. I couldn’t hear the traffic when I was within the estate, and I definitely didn’t hear any traffic sounds when I was tutoring in one of the houses. (However, on the note of noise, the soundproofing within the (original condition) shophouses isn’t great when I was giving tuition, I could sound from both the upper and lower floors within the house.)Cross the road and we reach another row of shophouses, the first of which is Plain Vanilla Cafe.
The houses here have a slightly different style from the ones along Blair Road. (Click here to read more about the history of the houses.)For one, the ones here all have gates.However, they’re right along a busy main road, with not much pavement outside to speak of.The bright side is, most of them can fit at least one car.
Personally, I’d still prefer to live along Blair Road as the houses along Neil Road definitely get much more road noise. Also, do note that the houses in Blair Road are freehold but some of the properties along Neil Road are 99-year leasehold.
Some info about the houses for the history buffs out there.Hey, there’s one for sale!There was no one around so I wasn’t able to ask to go in to take a look.
We’ve now reached the last shophouse, bringing us back to the HDB estate where we started the tour. If you want to see more of the Everton Park HDB estate, check out this video. (FYI there’s a bus stop here too, with buses 61, 166, 167, 196 and 197.)
Last look back at the shophouses. Look down Spottiswoode Park Road, where we started our walkabout.
Note that there is a condo in the middle of construction down this way but I didn’t hear much construction noise during my tour.
There’s also a large park if you walk down Spottiswoode Park Road.
We’ve now reached the end of the tour. How did you find the area?
Personally, I loved the area and I loooooooove conservation housing. However, I must say it’s not for everyone. For example, many Singaporean parents may not find the area ideal as it’s not near any famous primary schools. (The closest are Cantonment Primary and CHIJ Kellock.) And note how we didn’t spot any playgrounds within the landed enclave (although residents can always use the ones at the neighbouring HDB estates.)
Last but not least, living in a conservation house isn’t the most convenient. I have friends who love it enough to have stayed in several but even they acknowledge the issues that come with the houses- parking, pests, soundproofing etc. The family that I tutored who lived in Blair Road eventually chose not to renew their tenancy because there was a terrible leak in the house. Another acquaintance used to rent out a conservation property but eventually chose to sell it because there were just too many maintenance issues to make it worthwhile for her.
I would say living in a heritage house is really a passion project: you must love the history and charm enough to put up with the problems!
Join me again next week as I go back to touring “regular” houses!
Unlike condos, there are very few true like-for-like comparisons in the landed market. Every purchase is effectively a judgement call based on imperfect comparables.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the price ranges for conservation houses on Blair Road?
Properties on Blair Road are generally priced from around $4 million to over $6 million, with some properties starting at about $4 million. They are considered relatively affordable compared to Emerald Hill conservation houses, which start from about $10 million.
Are the conservation houses on Blair Road near good schools?
The area is not near any famous primary schools, with the closest being Cantonment Primary and CHIJ Kellock. The area may not be ideal for families prioritizing proximity to well-known schools.
What are some disadvantages of living in conservation houses on Blair Road?
Disadvantages include parking issues, pests, soundproofing problems, and maintenance challenges. The houses may also lack nearby playgrounds and are not close to schools, which could be inconvenient for families.
How accessible is Blair Road for transportation and amenities?
Blair Road is well-connected, with an 8-minute walk to Outram Park MRT station and multiple bus services. The area also has a variety of eateries, cafes, shops, and a large park nearby.
What is the architectural style of the houses along Blair Road?
The houses feature diverse architectural styles, including Chinese, Malay, Art Deco, and Modern designs, creating a harmonious and interesting streetscape.
Are there modern amenities or renovations in the conservation houses on Blair Road?
Some houses have been modernized with features like swimming pools and modern lighting, and some have converted walls into glass to let in more light, despite being zoned as conservation properties.
TJ's interest in property was sparked after returning from the UK- where balconies are not counted in one's square footage!- and finding that the Singapore property had totally changed in the 7 years she was away. When not reading and watching articles & videos about property, she is busy cooking and baking for friends, family & her blog Greedygirlgourmet
1 Comments
Philip Ho
great editorial as usual!
The 5-foot way path is owned by the property owner.
1 Comments
great editorial as usual!
The 5-foot way path is owned by the property owner.