Special Feature
Historic Oxley Road family home with 993-year lease for sale at Orchard Court
Formerly the family home of Geraldene Lowe-Ismail, a key figure in Singapore’s heritage preservation movement. (Photo: Desmond Ng)
A rare heritage home in prime District 9
In the heart of one of Singapore’s most storied neighbourhoods lies a home that transcends mere real estate. Located in the Orchard Road vicinity, this Orchard Court residence presents a rare opportunity for discerning collectors and heritage enthusiasts to own a home defined by history, character and legacy.
Built in 1967, the apartment reflects values that are increasingly hard to find in modern city homes: continuity, authenticity and respect for the past. Being on Oxley Road places it in prime District 9, an area whose history stretches back to the 19th century.
The residence faces the greenery of No. 5 Oxley Rise, the family bungalow of Dr Thomas Oxley, an early colonial surgeon and landowner whose nutmeg plantation once covered much of the surrounding Orchard Road area. It also looks towards one of Singapore’s most historically significant stretches, near 38 Oxley Road, the former residence of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
What makes this home especially meaningful is that it was the family home of the late Geraldene Lowe-Ismail, a woman widely recognised for her lifelong contribution to preserving Singapore’s heritage architecture and culture.
Positioned in prime District 9, it benefits from proximity to Orchard Road while retaining a sense of historical calm.(Photo: EdgeProp Singapore)
A home shaped by legacy and stewardship
Mrs Lowe-Ismail, who passed away in February 2025 at the age of 86, was widely recognised for her trailblazing role in Singapore’s heritage architecture and culture.
She was a founding member of the Singapore Heritage Society, the first president of the Registered Tourist Guides Association of Singapore, and the author of Memories of Chinatown, a beloved work that remains a touchstone for anyone interested in Singapore’s heritage architecture and culture.
For nearly five decades, she championed walking tours that took people beyond the familiar postcard images of Singapore and into the streets, stories and communities that give the island its distinct character.
Her tourism-hospitality extended to international dignitaries, including former US President George HW Bush, whom she personally guided through Singapore’s pivotal historical landmarks.
In 2014, she was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism from then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. In 2018, the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations inducted her into the Singapore Women’s Hall of Fame for her outstanding contribution to national tourism, a fitting recognition of a life devoted to preserving national memory, place and identity.
This home therefore carries not only architectural and locational value, but also a direct connection to a remarkable Singaporean legacy.
The unit faces the greenery of Oxley Rise, linking it visually to the area’s colonial-era landscape history. (Photo: Desmond Ng)
Unique Orchard Court appeal
Orchard Court itself adds substantial value to the residence. One of the few high-rise buildings in the Oxley area, it offers a sense of elevation and openness that is uncommon in this part of Singapore. The Lowe-Ismail home, which sits on a mid-floor, enjoys wide vistas over much of Oxley Road, creating a visual connection to the surrounding heritage streetscape.
The development’s point-block layout further enhances the living experience. With only four units on each floor, every home is a corner unit, allowing for greater privacy, better airflow and more open views.
The lift landing on every floor also adds convenience and a more exclusive feel of a private address. These details create the kind of daily comfort and spatial quality that distinguish a truly desirable home.
A combination of greenery, and the context of heritage housing and history gives the apartment a visual character that is increasingly difficult to find in central Singapore.
Inside, the home offers a spacious layout with high ceilings, giving the unit a bright and airy feel. The generous proportions are certainly more expansive than those of newer city apartments, while the preserved architectural details lend a distinct personality.
Features such as wall dentils and clover-shaped wall motifs reflect the decorative character of older homes, offering a subtle reminder of the design sensibilities of a different era.
A 993-year leasehold tenure adds rarity, permanence and long-term value to an already distinctive property. (Photo: EdgeProp Singapore)
Strategic location and exceptional market positioning
Sited near Somerset MRT Station, with multiple transport, retail, dining and cultural amenities in the vicinity, the apartment offers a paradox that defines an exceptional piece of Singapore real estate: accessibility to endless luxury, yet with a sense of timeless tranquillity.
The Lowe-Ismail home is further distinguished by its 993-year lease, a tenure that is rare in Singapore and highly prized for its sense of permanence. Thus, such a holding offers both practical security and a symbolic connection to stewardship across generations.
At $2.88 million, the property offers remarkable value for its location, tenure and historical significance. With an area of 1,442 sq ft, the price works out to approximately $1,997 psf, just below the $2,000 threshold that defines Orchard Road’s premium positioning.
More than a property, but a custodianship
In Singapore’s competitive property market, opportunities to acquire heritage-rich properties with extended leases and strategic locations remain extraordinarily limited. This Oxley Road residence represents a rare convergence of a property where cultural appreciation and legacy preservation seamlessly align.
What distinguishes this offering from typical luxury properties is its narrative weight. Buyers are inheriting a responsibility to steward a space intimately connected to Singapore’s heritage preservation movement. The home in which Mrs Lowe-Ismail nurtured her passion for Singapore’s stories now awaits an owner who appreciates that custodianship.
The property’s emotional and historical richness, tied to the Lowe-Ismail family legacy, creates an intangible but profound value proposition. For heritage enthusiasts and those who view asset ownership as an act of cultural preservation, this represents an opportunity that transcends conventional market metrics.
For more information,
Group District Director (R007711B)
PROPNEX REALTY PTE. LTD.
Follow Us
Property updates, 24/7.
Subscribe to Newsletter
Market insights, delivered weekly.
Top Articles
Search