Synopsis:

This talk draws from Socio-Cultural Heritage of Jurong Island and its Former Offshore Islands, a NHB Heritage Research Grant project that utilsed archival maps, oral histories, and GIS visualisation to trace the lived experiences of island communities (including, Malay, Teochew, Orang Suku Laut and others) before the formation of Jurong Island.

Using materials from the National Archives of Singapore—such as 19th-century hydrographic charts, oral history recordings, and declassified government documents—Dr Hadi Osni examines how place names, ecological knowledge, and kinship ties offer alternative ways of remembering and representing these maritime landscapes. The talk highlights how archival materials can be recontextualised through memory mapping and participatory research.

About the Speaker
Dr. Hadi Osni is a curator at the Malay Heritage Centre under Singapore's National Heritage Board. His research focuses on architectural and urban history, community heritage, and spatial memory in Singapore's built environment. He is Co-Investigator of the NHB-funded project Socio-Cultural Heritage of Jurong Island and Former Offshore Islands (2023–2025), where he led oral history, archival, and GIS research to document the lives of former island residents. The project culminated in the From Jurong Island to Selat Sembilan exhibition at the NUS Museum.