Even before Singapore was established as a British colonial outpost in 1819, waves of migrants including soldiers, traders and manual workers from the Indian subcontinent had settled here. By 1827, along South Bridge Road, Indian settlers built this Hindu temple, Singapore’s first. It was known as Sithi Vinayagar Gothanda Ramaswamy Mariamman Kovil. Sanctums dedicated to Sri Mariamman, Sri Vinayagar, Sri Subramaniyar and Sri Ramar, representing different Hindu traditions (Shakta, Shaiva and Vaishnava) were worshipped at this temple from inception.