Last Glimpse at the Black Lion of Moulmein: Touring Singapore’s Former CDC

circular connection
1 day ago
3 min read

Tucked behind lush trees near Novena sits a hospital complex that once guarded the nation’s health. This is the final opportunity to walk through its storied grounds.

Quiet street with tall trees and red-roofed buildings. Modern skyscraper in the background. Cloudy sky, green grass, serene atmosphere.

For more than a century, the quiet expanse at 2 Moulmein Road served as Singapore’s frontline defense against the spread of infectious disease. Many know it as the former Communicable Disease Centre, or simply “the CDC,” but its legacy reaches deeper. First established in 1913 as the Government Infectious Diseases Hospital, it was renamed Middleton Hospital in 1920 in honour of Dr W.R.C. Middleton, one of Singapore’s earliest medical pioneers.

Map board with text "Institute of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology" outdoors, showing campus layout. Surrounded by grass, trees, and buildings.

Image: Hidden Heritage Collective

The complex spans over one million square feet of prime land, sitting between Novena, Farrer Park and Boon Keng. Its scattered buildings and open wards tell the story of how design met necessity during times when airflow and isolation were crucial. These structures bore witness to waves of fear, hope and healing—housing patients during outbreaks of cholera, smallpox, typhoid, diphtheria, polio, HIV and later SARS.

A Rare Window Into the Past

Empty, spacious room with white walls, blue doors, and windows. Ceiling fans and lighting fixtures hang from the ceiling. Bright, airy mood.

Image: Hidden Heritage Collective

Hidden Heritage Tours now offers a limited opportunity to explore the Former Communicable Disease Centre before the site is handed over for redevelopment. Guided by immersive storytelling and archival photographs, the tour invites participants to imagine the human experiences behind the walls—nurses working in silence, patients hoping for recovery, and administrators racing against time.

Visitors will walk through original early-20th-century wards, observe preserved architectural elements, and hear real stories from former staff. There is a deep sense of contrast: empty rooms that once bustled with urgency now echo quietly, bearing the stillness of a site no longer in use.

One of the most impactful elements of the tour is its exploration of how diseases shaped Singapore’s public health strategies. From colonial-era epidemics to modern-day outbreaks, the centre’s history mirrors the city’s evolution.

See And Tour The Former CDC Before It Changes Forever

Empty industrial room with large windows, blue doors, checkered tiles, and a fan on the ceiling. The space feels abandoned and quiet.

Image: Hidden Heritage Collective

This is the final opportunity to experience the Former Communicable Disease Centre in its raw, unfiltered state. After 26 Oct 2025, the site will be leased for nine years and reimagined as a lifestyle destination. Although developers are required to preserve the original structures, transformation is inevitable. The timeworn walls will be repainted, the open grounds may host curated events, and the tranquil stillness that defines the space today is likely to give way to a more polished and commercial setting.

Dim room with tiled walls, barred windows, and open blue double doors leading outside. An old radiator lies on the floor. Quiet and abandoned.

Image: Hidden Heritage Collective

The tour of the former CDC is presented by the Hidden Heritage Collective, known for its immersive, story-driven experiences that uncover Singapore’s forgotten spaces. Through exclusive partnerships with government agencies, private landlords and local businesses, the collective reveals stories that rarely reach the public eye.

For those who appreciate hidden history and places that have quietly resisted the passage of time, this is a fleeting chance to walk through a space that once stood at the heart of Singapore’s fight against disease.