Have you ever wondered why is it called “Jurong”?
The name “Jurong” is derived from the Malay word jerong, which literally means “shark”. Jurong was historically a mangrove swamp, with some plantation farms, fish and prawn ponds, and crocodile-infested rivers. The rural land was mostly state-owned, except for plots owned by a small number of residents.
Why Jurong East?
Jurong is located at the south-westernmost point of the West Region of Singapore. When Jurong is split into these five contiguous parts, it forms Jurong East and West in the north and north-west, Boon Lay and Pioneer to the south and south-west and Tuas to the extreme west of the region.
What Makes Jurong East Town Interesting?
In recent years, the town has become known as the ‘Orchard Road’ or the shopping capital of the Western part of Singapore, with shopping malls such as JEM and Westgate sprouting up in the area.
How Many HDB Flats in Jurong East?
Jurong East is home to an estimated HDB resident population of 79,600 and the HDB manages 23,897 flats in the area (as of 31 March 2017).
Is it Preferable to Live in Jurong East?
In response to the town’s gentrification in recent years, a five-year masterplan to further develop it was announced in 2006. Landmarks in Jurong include Jurong Port, Jurong Industrial Estate, Jurong Town Hall, Science Centre Singapore and Jurong Bird Park.
Healthcare
A 700-bed Ng Teng Fong General Hospital and 400-bed Jurong Community Hospital, both located on the same site, were opened on 30 June 2015.
Education
Jurong Junior College is located within the region, in between Hong Kah and Boon Lay. There is at least 1 primary school and 1 secondary school in each precinct of Jurong including the Shuqun Primary School.
Accessibility and Transportation
Jurong is well connected to the rest of Singapore by road, with Kranji Expressway linking them to the northern part of Singapore, Pan Island Expressway linking them to the Eastern part of Singapore and the Ayer Rajah Expressway linking them to the south-eastern part of Singapore.
Clementi Avenue 6 and Jurong Town Hall Road complement the 3 expressways, topping off the well-built road connection from Jurong to all parts of the island. Jurong Point Shopping Mall with Boon Lay MRT Station in the foreground. The region is well-connected to the MRT system with Jurong East and Chinese Garden serving Jurong East. Lakeside, Boon Lay and Pioneer serving Jurong West and Joo Koon, Gul Circle, Tuas West Road, Tuas Link serving Pioneer & Tuas industrial areas.
Any Future Plans for Jurong East?
Residents can enjoy the revitalisation of the Jurong Lake District under the Remaking Our Heartland programme, which will transform the town into a new regional centre.
In August 2017, the Urban Redevelopment Authority unveiled the Jurong Lake District Draft Master Plan, which features 3 distinctive precincts – Jurong Gateway, Lakeside, and Lakeside Gateway.
Jurong East Lakeside
In the future, the 20-kilometre Jurong Region MRT Line will help to further connect commuters to places in Jurong and the rest of Singapore.
The Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail terminus is also set to be located within the Lakeside Gateway, providing a gateway for cross-border business and travel with the potential to plug into regional growth opportunities.
What are the Notable Places in Jurong East?
Besides the new shopping malls in the area, nature lovers can head to the Chinese and Japanese Gardens. A tranquil getaway from the hustle and bustle of the main town area, the gardens feature traditional Chinese and Japanese architectural styles.
Japanese Garden
Jurong Bird Park covers an area of 0.2 square kilometres (49 acres) on the western slope of Jurong Hill, the highest point in the Jurong region. It is now a world-famous bird zoo where there are specimens of magnificent bird life from around the world, including a large flock of flamingos. It is currently the world’s largest bird park in terms of the number of birds, and second largest both in the number of bird species and land area. This sprawling park is Asia’s largest, with a collection of over 5,000 birds from 400 species, of which 29 are of threatened species.
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Source: Lee & Cornelius, HDB, Visit Singapore
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