Singapore’s government has begun formal proceedings to gazette 38 Oxley Road, the family home of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, as a national monument.
The announcement, made on Nov 3 2025, sets in motion a legal process that could see the iconic property acquired and transformed into a public heritage site, while balancing the late leader’s stated wish for privacy.
Notice to the Owner
The National Heritage Board (NHB) has issued a formal notice of intention to the property’s owner, Mr Lee Hsien Yang, informing him of Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo’s intent to gazette the site.
From that moment, 38 Oxley Road became a proposed national monument, giving it immediate protection under the Preservation of Monuments Act.
Mr Lee Hsien Yang has until Nov 17 2025 to file objections. After that, Minister Neo will decide whether to issue a final preservation order.
Under Singapore law, such decisions can be challenged only on limited legal grounds such as illegality, irrationality, or breach of natural justice.
Next Steps if Gazetted
If a preservation order is confirmed, the government will acquire the property under the Land Acquisition Act, freeing the private owner from the obligations tied to a protected monument.
Officials will then conduct a physical study of the property to craft preservation guidelines, identifying architectural or historically significant features that must be retained.
The dining room, where key discussions on Singapore’s political future took place in the 1950s, is expected to receive particular protection.
Dr Lee Wei Ling, Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter and the last known resident, passed away in the home in 2024.
Respecting Mr Lee’s Wishes
Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s will had expressed his wish for the house to be demolished, or, if preserved, to keep private living areas closed to the public.
The NHB said that any future redevelopment will remove traces of private spaces to honour those wishes.
A 2018 ministerial committee had earlier proposed gazetting only the dining room while allowing the rest of the house to be rebuilt — a compromise between historical preservation and the family’s privacy.
Compensation and Future Use
If acquired, compensation to the owner will reflect the market value at the date of acquisition, determined by the Singapore Land Authority with help from a professional valuer.
The government has suggested converting the site into a heritage park or public educational space, similar to other monuments such as Fort Siloso, whose preservation took about two years to formalise.
Source: Adapted from The Straits Times, Nov 4 2025.
