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The
Merlion re-opened to the public on 15 September
2002, more than four months after it moved to its
new home at One Fullerton in Collyer Quay. The
delay was to allow its new home to be built.
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Senior Minister LEE
Kuan Yew was the guest-of-honour at the launch of
the new Merlion Park that day. It was Mr LEE who
unveiled the Merlion at the original location at
the mouth of the Singapore River in 1972.
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The
Merlion, one of five Merlions in Singapore
officially recognised by the Singapore Tourism
Board (STB), began life as the corporate logo of
Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (the former name
of STB). It is 8.6 m tall and weighs 70 tonnes.
The late Singaporean craftsman LIM Nan Seng
crafted the Merlion out of cement fondue in 1972.
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The
new Merlion Park in which the Merlion sits has an
area of 2,500 sq m. - four times larger than the
original Merlion Park. A smaller Merlion statue -
also made by LIM in 1972, measuring 2 m tall and
weighing 3 tonnes - sits a few metres directly
behind the big Merlion.
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For
more pictures, click HERE!
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Where
to find the other three official Merlions in
Singapore:
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1.
Tourism Court at 1 Orchard Spring Lane
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2.
Sentosa - off Siloso Road
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3.
Mount Faber
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Merlion re-opens to the public
