Image by the Author

Kusu Island

Singapore’s very own island to relax by the beach

Kusu Island History

In March 1616, DOM Jose De Silva, Spanish Governor of the Philippines was homebound with his fleet of 10 galleons and 2 galleys when his galleon on a reef in the vicinity.

View of Singapore Marina while onboard the boat heading to Kusu Island — by the Author

Tradition has it that the accident took place a the Kusu Reef itself and hence the island became first known in the 17th Century as Governor’s Island and Singapore Straits as the Governor’s Straits.

The island gained prominence again when Daniel Ross, Hydrographer to Sir Stamford Raffle,s surveyed the harbor and established the island as a reference point for all ships entering the port.

Cruise ship park on Singapore Water in front of Marina. The image was taken while on board the boat by the Author

Subsequently, in 1822, a signal station with a signal mast was erected on the island and it was manned by the staff of the Harbour Master’s Department. Kusu which means “Tortoise Island” in Chinese, is also known as Peak Island or Pulau Tembakul in Malay. It is situated about 5.6 km from Singapore.