It was originally a town hall that was later connected by a clock tower to a memorial hall built for Queen Victoria when she passed away in 1901. The Palladian-style national monument has hosted many government events,  stage performances and musicals over the years, and was once used as a hospital in World War II.

Aside from the variety of plays and concerts held on its famous stages, it also displays a slice of Singapore’s history. At the front of the concert hall stands the prominent statue of Stamford Raffles, modern Singapore’s founding father. This statue was relocated to the concert hall in 1919, as part of the centenary celebrations of the landing of Stamford Raffles.