Welcome to Warisan Geylang

The modern exhibits at the Geylang Serai Heritage Gallery are influenced by the storyings of the Orang Laut’s lifestyle mainly through showcasing the historical journey of the Malay and Orang Laut communities settling around the Geylang and Kallang Rivers, creating a thriving cultural hub. The gallery captures how these sea nomads transitioned from maritime nomadic life to established settlers, contributing to the area’s early development and cultural identity.

Key influences of the Orang Laut lifestyle on the exhibits include:

• Depictions of traditional stilt houses (kampung architecture) that reflect the Orang Laut’s adaptation to the coastal river environment, with upper living quarters and lower storage/work areas, blending maritime and land dwelling practices.

• Artifacts and displays illustrating early community life, including lemongrass plantations (which gave Geylang Serai its name) and the socio-economic activities stemming from their settlement.

• Preservation of Malay cultural practices that incorporate Orang Laut sea nomad heritage, such as traditional crafts, culinary heritage, festivals like Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and communal social structures, demonstrating the fusion of maritime and agrarian lifestyles.

• Historical narratives highlighting the resettlement of the Orang Laut post the 1840s and their role in forming the Malay community’s foundation in Geylang Serai, tracing the area’s growth from a floating village to a vibrant Malay cultural and trading center.

• Contextual storytelling in guided tours provided at the gallery that brings to life the customs and history that shaped the community’s identity.

Overall, the gallery uses archival materials, historical objects, and stories to connect visitors with how the Orang Laut’s maritime nomadic lifestyle influenced the cultural, architectural, and social fabric of Geylang Serai, preserving their legacy as integral to Singapore’s Malay heritage.lionheartlanders+3

This blend of maritime heritage with Malay settlement life provides a living cultural narrative that continues to define Geylang Serai’s identity as a historic Malay enclave.