If you're willing to go off the main path, bash through some super tall ferns and wild grass and get slightly scratched by thorny plants and stems to find the secret Keppel Hill Reservoir, you will be greatly rewarded. There's nothing like a challenging hike and the beautiful and in this case, elusive views at the end. Formerly used as a private reservoir in 1905 and then a swimming hole from the 1940s, the body of water was totally left out on official maps of Singapore from 1954. Start your trek on Keppel Hill Road before slipping into a man-made path which leads to the reservoir.
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The Keppel Hill Reservoir is an abandoned reservoir near Mount Faber in the southern part of Singapore. It was built during the colonial period of Singapore. It fell into disuse due to its small capacity and was eventually forgotten.
The Keppel Hill Reservoir is an abandoned reservoir near Mount Faber in the southern part of Singapore. It was built during the colonial period of Singapore. It fell into disuse due to its small capacity and was eventually forgotten.
It is not known when the reservoir was first built. However, there was a mention of an excavation site for a reservoir in the news during those times with the trial of "Westphalite" (explosives) supplied by Paterson, Simons & Co.. The first charge was conducted on 12 April 1899 at the excavation site meant for the reservoir near the foot of Mount Faber and the premises of the New Harbour Company, a company which was later renamed as Keppel Harbour Company on 19 April 1900.
The private reservoir, which is about one-third the size of the modern Olympic-sized swimming pool and which became first known in 1905 as the Keppel Harbour Power Station Reservoir, served the nearby Tanjong Pagar Dock for the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company.
