Post-war private maternity hospital to be used as museum, cafe and school

Old Salmon's Maternity Home rare medical facility with interior largely intact: Experts

- Ng Keng Gene Correspondent

One of retired architect Tia Boon Sim's childhood memories is accompanying her father to a maternity hospital in Prinsep Street, where she climbed a staircase decorated with mosaic tiles to meet her baby sister for the first time.

A couple of years before, in November 1955, Ms Tia was herself born in Salmon's Maternity Home, which was completed in 1950 and is believed to have functioned until the 1980s.

Ms Tia has no recollection of entering the old hospital since 1962 - the year her second sister was born. The founder of Urban Sketchers Singapore has, however, returned to 110 Prinsep Street a few times to sketch the building.

Soon, Ms Tia may get a chance to have a closer look at her birthplace once again, as the former private maternity hospital is set to be used as a museum, commercial school and cafe.

"I recall the building having an elevator with a collapsible gate - it was like a scene out of a Hong Kong movie with mosaic tiles everywhere, and I hope it will be open to the public so more can appreciate the beautiful, grand old lady," said Ms Tia of the former hospital.

The old Salmon's Maternity Home was built and run by gynaecologist S.R. Salmon, who died in January 1984, and whose wake was held in the Prinsep Street compound.

The hospital was also the private home of Dr Salmon's daughter, veteran gynaecologist Yvonne Marjorie Salmon, until she died on Oct 28, 2020, aged 94. She never married and worked at Kandang Kerbau Hospital now KK Women's and Children's Hospital for 44 years before retiring in 1996.

A private healthcare institution named Salmon Clinic was registered to the old hospital's address, under Dr Yvonne Salmon's name, until at least 2004.