Farrer Park shophouses

History of Farrer Park: racecourse, field and a wartime address

Farrer Park takes its name from the former racecourse. NLB Infopedia records that the Singapore Sporting Club, founded on 4 October 1842, was granted semi-swampy land near the junction of Bukit Timah and Serangoon Roads, and the racecourse opened in 1843 with the first races that February. When racing moved to Bukit Timah in 1933, the site was renamed Farrer Park in 1935 after Roland John Farrer, who headed the Municipal Commissioners from 1919 to 1931.

The field went on to host sport and public gatherings. In February 1942, after the fall of Singapore, British Indian Army soldiers were assembled at Farrer Park, an event known as the Farrer Park address, which led to the formation of the Indian National Army in Singapore. It is one of the better known historical moments tied to the field, and a reason the name carries weight beyond property.

For buyers, the key point is that history is attached to the open field and the racecourse. The shophouses nearby are separate buildings with their own dates, so check the age and status of each one rather than assuming a heritage label.

1. 4 October 1842

   The Singapore Sporting Club is founded to organise horse racing, per NLB Infopedia.

2. February 1843

   The first races are held on the new racecourse near Serangoon Road.

3. 1933

   Racing moves to Bukit Timah and the old course site is released.

4. 1935

   The site is renamed Farrer Park after Roland John Farrer.

5. February 1942

   British Indian Army soldiers are assembled at Farrer Park for the address that led to the Indian National Army.

6. 1950s to 1980s

   NLB describes Farrer Park as a sporting hub in these decades.

The name Farrer Park describes a former racecourse and field, and not a single street of shophouses.

Farrer Park shophouse streets: Farrer Park Road, Rangoon Road and neighbours

The Farrer Park subzone is described as a mix of older shophouses, mid-rise public housing and newer condominium developments, bounded in broad terms by Race Course Road, Owen Road, Serangoon Road and parts of Tessensohn Road. That mix is the main point for a buyer: this is not a continuous conservation street like Haji Lane or Club Street.

Shophouse rows are found along and off roads such as Farrer Park Road, Rangoon Road and the streets toward Owen Road and Jalan Besar. Some of these rows are conserved, some are not, and some have been redeveloped. We do not assert the status of any particular row on this page. Check each address on the URA conservation portal.

The south side of the subzone meets the Little India Conservation Area, so a unit near Race Course Road or Serangoon Road may fall in the conservation area while a unit a block north does not. Boundaries matter to value.

Uses: services, F&B and medical-adjacent trade

The subzone's character includes healthcare buildings, sports amenities, schools and residential blocks. That combination creates daytime demand for services, small offices and food outlets close to the station and hospitals. We make no claims about any named operator, and nothing here implies an affiliation with any hospital or business.

Shophouse ground floors commonly host cafes, eateries, minimarts and services, while upper floors may be offices, storage or residential if the approved use allows. The mix of tenants is wider than in Little India's tourist stretches, which can mean steadier local trade but less destination footfall.

If you want an F&B-led unit with strong weekend traffic, look at Race Course Road. If you want a calmer fringe location with MRT access, Farrer Park is worth comparing.

Conservation checks for Farrer Park shophouses

There is no single Farrer Park conservation area for us to cite. The relevant gazettes nearby are the Little India Conservation Area, gazetted on 7 July 1989 and bounded by Serangoon Road, Sungei Road and Jalan Besar, plus the extension areas URA added later. Whether a Farrer Park unit falls inside one depends on its exact address.

For any conserved shophouse, URA says conservation permission is required before additions and alterations and before a new use begins. For a non-conserved shophouse the planning rules are different, and redevelopment may be possible within the zoning. Do not assume either; look up the lot and get a written answer.

• Look up the address on the URA conservation portal and note any applicable guidelines.
• Ask for approved plans and any past conservation permission.
• Check Master Plan zoning, as it controls permitted uses and redevelopment options.

Near Little India is not the same as inside it, and the gazette boundary can run between two neighbours.

Farrer Park MRT (NE8) and getting around

Farrer Park station (NE8) on the North East Line is the anchor. Little India (NE7 and DT12) is the next station toward the city. Boon Keng (NE9) lies the other way on the same line, and Lavender (EW11) on the East West Line serves the Jalan Besar side. Walking time from each depends on the street, so check the route for your unit.

Bus services run along Serangoon Road and Race Course Road, linking the area to the city and neighbouring districts. Routes and frequencies change, so confirm the current network before citing bus access to a tenant.

Station proximity is a leasing advantage for services and offices, because staff can commute without a car. It also affects how much pass-by trade a ground-floor unit sees at commuting hours.

Farrer Park shophouse prices and rent (as of 5 November 2026)

We do not publish prices, rents or yields for Farrer Park. The shophouse stock is too mixed for a single average to mean anything, and an invented figure would be misleading.

To build evidence, search URA REALIS for caveats and transactions on the specific street, then filter for property type, tenure and area. Confirm each price with your lawyer from the caveat and stamp-duty records. For rent, request signed leases and compare floor area, approved use and the length of the term. Whether a unit is conserved, freehold or leasehold is a basic split before any comparison.

A nearby sale of a conserved freehold unit tells you little about a non-conserved leasehold unit a few blocks away. Group comparable units first, then adjust for condition and position.

F&B and retail around Farrer Park

Food and retail near the station draw on a mixed catchment of residents, visitors to nearby medical facilities and workers. This is a general observation about the area's land use and not a claim about any named business. Always study foot traffic yourself at different hours.

For a kitchen, the same gates apply as elsewhere: change-of-use approval where required, a food-shop licence, fire and ventilation compliance and a landlord who accepts the works. Check these before you commit to a lease.

Retail units suit services that benefit from station proximity, such as convenience, personal services and small offices. A destination retailer may do better closer to Little India's busier stretches.

Investment and living near Farrer Park

Farrer Park suits investors who want city-fringe access with fewer tourist crowds. Risks include fragmented stock, differing conservation status between neighbours and shorter, patchy shophouse rows. Work lot by lot.

Tax follows zoning. Fully commercial property typically does not attract ABSD, while residential or mixed zoning can; check current IRAS rates and take advice, since we do not quote rates.

Owner-occupiers get MRT access and a mixed urban setting, with the noise and activity that implies. Compare with Jalan Besar and the wider city fringe in District 7 and 8 before you decide.