The National Heritage Board announced on 3 Nov 2025 that it intends to gazette 38 Oxley Road as a national monument.
Lee Kuan Yew lived in the property from the mid-1940s until his death in 2015. The founding Prime Minister’s family home has been at the center of a public dispute since 2017.
Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo accepted NHB’s recommendation to preserve the site. The Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board assessed the location and found it had historic significance and national importance.
Why This House Matters
The basement dining room hosted meetings that led to the formation of the People’s Action Party. The party has ruled Singapore since 1959.
Key discussions about Singapore’s path to independence took place within these walls. Built in the late 19th century, the property connects directly to pivotal moments in the nation’s history.
What Happens Next
The government plans to acquire the site and convert it into a public space if a preservation order goes through. A heritage park is one possibility on the table. Residential, commercial or other private developments are off the cards.
The government will remove all traces of the family’s private living spaces from the buildings. This honors Lee Kuan Yew’s documented wishes. Preservation doesn’t mean every existing structure must stay exactly as it is now.
How We Got Here
Lee Hsien Yang applied to demolish the property on 21 Oct 2024. His sister, Dr Lee Wei Ling, had died, and he wanted to tear down the house.
The Preservation of Sites and Monuments Advisory Board conducted the formal assessment. Public servants on the board stepped aside to avoid conflicts of interest. Experts from various sectors made the call.
The Clock Is Ticking
38 Oxley Road Pte Ltd received written notice of the preservation order intention. Lee Hsien Yang owns the company as sole shareholder. His son Li Huanwu is registered as director.
The owner has until 17 Nov 2025 to submit objections under the Preservation of Monuments Act 2009. Neo will review every objection before making a final decision.
The notice gives 38 Oxley Road legal status as a proposed national monument. Proposed monuments get similar protections to gazetted ones. Anyone who alters monuments in ways that affect their character faces punishment.
The Family Feud
The issue exploded into public view in 2017. Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee accused their brother, then-PM Lee Hsien Loong, of wanting the bungalow preserved for political gain. They said this went against their father’s wishes.
Lee Hsien Loong refuted their accusations in a ministerial statement to Parliament. He raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Lee Kuan Yew’s final will.
Lee Hsien Yang became the sole owner after Lee Hsien Loong sold him the house in 2015 at market value. Lee Hsien Loong recused himself from all government decisions about the property. He informed the Cabinet of this decision on 15 Apr 2015.
Previous Plans
A ministerial committee formed in June 2016 to prepare various options for the property. Their April 2018 report laid out several paths forward. Options included keeping the property intact, preserving just the dining room and demolishing the rest, or tearing down everything.
The government will consider all options from the 2018 committee report. A decision will come well within this government’s term. The current administration was sworn in on 23 May 2025 and has up to five years to serve.
