Hillview 'Dry' Market - 1967

I recently came across a new photo that did not come from the National Archives.
This was a rare picture of the original Hillview Market that was opened in September 1967.

The Hillview Market was the first government built market at Princess Elizabeth Estate. From the estate's  founding in 1953 till 1967, the estate did not have a proper produce market. The residents in the small estate had to depend on farmers who lived in the area coming together to sell their fresh produce direct to the households. The makeshift hawker market was then located in front of Blk 16, near the Green Bus terminus. 

In 1965, the PEE residents petitioned their MP, Mr Chor Yeok Eng, to propose to the HDB for a proper market. This succeeded and construction began in 1966. It was to be located along the main Hillview Avenue, making access easy to all.

What most people don't realise today was that this market was one of the earliest experimental 'dry' market. Traditionally, the HDB provided wet markets,  where they basically build a huge sheltered space, and allocated lots within this open space under one roof. Wet markets, as the name implies, was always wet with water which led to hygiene problems and smells.

The Hillview Market was a new concept where small 'shops' or stalls were allocated to the hawkers who could only sell their wares within their stalls. Thus, making each hawker responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their own shops. There were 54 shop stalls selling meat, fish, vegetables, cooked food or sundry items. Each type of business was sectioned off into different blocks as seen in the picture.

I had previously written about this market in an earlier article where you can read the details at this link:- The Old Hillview Market