1958 British War Office Chart or Map of Singapore

This is a 1958 British War Office map of Singapore and Johor Bahru (Johore Bahru). This is one of the earliest maps of the self-governed State of Singapore, published in the same month it was established, paving the way for independence in 1965.

A Closer Look

Centered on the island of Singapore, the map also depicts Johor Bahru and the surrounding areas of the extreme southern tip of the Malaysian peninsula. Singapore's extensive road network is illustrated and differentiated by grade. The island's urban sprawl is readily apparent, although only a handful of specific buildings are identified. The Pandan Nature Reserve and the Catchment Area Nature Reserve are labeled. The whole is overlaid with a grid measured in yards north and east. An index in the lower right explains the notations.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the Directorate of Military Survey, War Office, and Air Ministry in 1958 as Series L707, Sheet 3L/12. This map is cataloged in the OCLC at three institutions: the University of Chicago, the National Library of Australia, and the Australian War Memorial.