LION CITY HUB • NATIONAL EDUCATION & HERITAGE
Raffles Lighthouse Maritime Heritage
Visit a working 19th-century beacon at Singapore’s southernmost maritime turning point.
Guiding Ships Since 1855
Raffles Lighthouse stands on Pulau Satumu at the southernmost point of Singapore. Built in 1855 and named after Sir Stamford Raffles, it marks an important turn along the busy Singapore Strait. The lighthouse remains an operational aid to navigation, helping vessels travel safely through surrounding waters.
Its isolated setting also offers a clear view of shipping routes, neighbouring islands and the scale of Singapore’s maritime activity. Guided visits connect the working beacon with the country’s development as a global port.
Pulau Satumu’s name is often understood as “one-tree island”, recalling a landmark once noticed by sailors. Around the island, reefs support hard corals and reef fish, giving this remote outpost a quieter natural side.
Did You Know?
Raffles Lighthouse was built in 1855 on Pulau Satumu and continues to serve as an operational aid to navigation.
Its location marks Singapore’s southernmost point, where ships travelling through the strait make an important turn.
What Makes Raffles Lighthouse Special
Raffles Lighthouse
Operating since 1855, the lighthouse on Pulau Satumu remains an active navigational beacon at Singapore’s southernmost point and a symbol of the nation’s maritime heritage.
Pulau Satumu
The small island’s name is often understood as “one-tree island”, reflecting an early landmark seen by sailors.
Singapore Strait Viewpoint
The lighthouse overlooks one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, where vessels turn through Singapore’s southern waters against a backdrop of islands and port activity.
Raffles Lighthouse Reef
The reefs around Pulau Satumu support hard corals, reef fish and other marine life, a lesser-known natural side of an island best known for its lighthouse.
Trail Routes
Route 1 Pulau Satumu
Explore the island setting, historical significance and continuing navigational role of Raffles Lighthouse through a compact walk on Pulau Satumu.
Duration: 30–45 minutes on the island · Distance: 0.1–0.2 km · Stops: 3
1. Jetty Arrival
Pulau Satumu is the island setting of Raffles Lighthouse. Its jetty introduces the connection between an offshore maritime installation and the mainland, reflecting the transport and supply arrangements needed to support a lighthouse separated from Singapore’s urban waterfront.
2. Raffles Lighthouse Forecourt
Built in 1855 and named after Sir Stamford Raffles, the lighthouse remains a navigational beacon in the Singapore Strait. Its tower connects nineteenth-century maritime infrastructure with the continuing work of guiding vessels through the waters around Singapore.
3. Singapore Strait Observation
The waters around Pulau Satumu place the lighthouse within its working maritime landscape. The beacon serves as a reference for vessels navigating turns along the busy Singapore Strait, showing how heritage infrastructure can continue to perform an essential practical role.
