The tower on Jurong Hill, originally built as a watchtower overseeing the development of the Jurong Industrial Estate, played a key role in promoting modern Singapore to foreign investors, dignitaries, and heads of state.

Visitors were invited to the top of the tower to witness the progress of the industrial estate firsthand, a view designed to instil confidence and encourage further economic growth. The tower remains one of Singapore’s four heritage towers, and the garden at its base, known as the “Garden of Fame,” was traditionally where these distinguished guests would plant trees to commemorate their visit.

Today, the gardens have become overgrown and forested, reflecting a more untamed state compared with their original, ceremonial purpose.