Singapore’s original bronze statue of Stamford Raffles stands outside Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall at Empress Place. The white replica is on the north bank of the Singapore River behind the former Parliament House, at the place commonly called Raffles Landing Site.
You can see both from the public paths around Empress Place. Use the theatre frontage for the bronze statue and the riverfront for the white one. The National Heritage Board describes the riverside location as the believed landing site, so treat the name as a historical attribution.
- Look for the bronze statue at Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.
- Go to the riverfront behind the former Parliament House for the white replica.
- Use the colour and landmark when arranging to meet.
- Compare the dates and settings when you read the heritage information.
Plan your visit
Start with the bronze statue at Victoria Theatre · Find the white replica by the river · What the two settings tell you
Start with the bronze statue at Victoria Theatre
The National Heritage Board records that Thomas Woolner’s bronze statue was first unveiled at the Padang in 1887. It moved to the site in front of what was then Victoria Memorial Hall in 1919. Today you can look for it by the theatre and concert hall frontage.
If you arrive from City Hall MRT, set Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall as your first destination. Once at Empress Place, find the statue on the theatre side before continuing towards the river.
Find the white replica by the river
Continue to the Singapore River side of the former Parliament House, now The Arts House. Follow the public riverside path to the white figure. NHB records that this polymarble copy was installed in 1972 at the spot believed to be where Raffles landed.
The colour helps distinguish the two, but the setting gives the stronger clue. One stands in front of a civic building and the other looks out from the riverbank. If you are sharing a photo or directions, name both the statue and its location.
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What the two settings tell you
Compare how the same figure is used in two places. The bronze statue dates from the colonial period. The later replica marks a location on the river associated with the British arrival. The dates of the sculptures and the event they recall are different pieces of information.
The short walk is a useful way to read the Civic District. Look for how the public buildings, river crossings and riverfront sit together. If you want a longer visit, continue towards Empress Place or use the heritage map to choose another stop.
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Common questions
Which Raffles statue is the original?
The bronze statue outside Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall.
Where is the white statue?
On the north bank of the Singapore River behind the former Parliament House.
Are both statues at Raffles Landing Site?
The landing-site name refers to the riverside location of the white replica. The original bronze is at the theatre frontage.