Jane’s Tours bring you a unique opportunity to retrace the steps of the Armenians of Singapore, who were among the earliest merchants and traders to arrive in Singapore after it became a British trading port in 1819.

Between 1820 and 2000, fewer than 700 Armenians have ever lived in Singapore, forming one of the country's smallest minorities. Nevertheless, this close-knit community has left behind a legacy incommensurate with their numbers. Along with the Church of St. Gregory the Illuminator (known to most as the Armenian Church), there are many reminders of their presence including the Raffles Hotel, Stamford House, the Straits Times newspaper and Singapore’s national flower.

Come with us to explore the places, personalities and stories of this small but fascinating community. You will learn about the finest hoteliers in all of Southeast Asia, the Armenian's connection with the Freemasons, and the creator of our national flower.

We will visit the Armenian Church (the oldest church in Singapore) and its Memorial Garden. Next we'll stroll along the newly pedestrianised Armenian Street Park and have the opportunity to visit the newly curated Armenian Heritage Gallery. It's the first museum of its kind that explores the journey and achievements of the Armenian Communities in Asia from the early days of settlement through to the present day.

Our tour will then take a break at the new Mason's Table restaurant inside the historic Masonic Hall where we will meet Dr. Nadia Wright, author of "The Armenians of Singapore, a Short History" for a discussion and Q&A. Nadia's book will be available for purchase and she will be honoured to sign one for you!

Nadia is a historian living in Melbourne, Australia and is of Armenian heritage. Her research focuses on the Armenians in Southeast Asia as well as the founding of Singapore. She is the author of "Respected Citizens: The History of the Armenians in Singapore and Malaysia," "William Farquhar and Singapore: Stepping out from Raffles’ Shadow," and "The Armenians of Penang." She also co-authored "Vanda Miss Joaquim: Singapore’s National Flower" and "The Legacy of Agnes & Ridley," and has published a variety of other scholarly articles.