Did you know that Singapore once had several famous “coloured houses” that were almost like urban legends back in the late ’90s and early 2000s? If you were in secondary school during that time, you probably heard about them, or maybe even snuck off to visit one during a chalet dare night.
There was the Red House in Pasir Ris, a creepy landed property guarded by a pair of stone lion statues; the White House in Punggol, better known as the Matilda House. And then there was the massive 9,000sqm Green House in Bukit Batok, also known as Hillview Mansion.
Hillview Mansion was owned by Cycle & Carriage Chairman Chua Boon Peng
Image credit: SPH
Once the most expensive residential property in Singapore, Hillview Mansion was commissioned in the 1950s by none other than Chua Boon Peng, the chairman of Cycle & Carriage (C&C). At that time, C&C was distributing Mercedes-Benz cars in Singapore, and Chua had grand plans to build both an assembly plant and a residence in the Hillview area.
He reportedly spent over $7 million, snapping up several plots of land around Hillview. Unfortunately, the mansion never reached completion, and over the years rumours began to swirl about why.
Image credit: James Tann
Some said that during an inspection, his mistress fell from the balcony and died on the spot, making the house “unlucky.” Others whispered about a construction worker who was struck by lightning. There was even talk of a murder in the half-built home.
Of course, no one knows for sure if any of these tales were true. The most logical explanation seems to be that the mansion was located too close to MINDEF, just over the hill. Due to security concerns, construction had to be halted.
So, the mansion stood unfinished, a skeletal dream that slowly became one of Singapore’s most enduring ghost stories.
Popularity amongst paranormal activity seekers
Image credit: Lester Yeong
Despite what the nickname suggests, the Green House wasn’t actually green. The name came from the large patch of lush greenery surrounding the area, which earned it the nickname “Green House Hill.”
But an abandoned mansion, sitting alone on a hill, surrounded by overgrown grass? That’s basically the perfect recipe for a haunted legend.
By the late 90s and early 2000s, Hillview Mansion had become a popular site for ghost hunters, thrill-seekers, and bored teenagers with too much confidence.
Stories circulated about eerie wailing sounds, supposedly the cries of the mistress who fell to her death. Some said her spirit still lingers there, searching for Chua. Others swore they saw shadowy figures by the gate, or heard footsteps crunching on gravel when no one was around.
Whether or not any of that was real, the Green House quickly earned its place among Singapore’s most haunted spots, right up there with the other “coloured houses”, Old Changi Hospital and Neo Tiew Estate.
What happened to Hillview Mansion?
Image credit: Remember Singapore
Eventually, the land was sold to V.P., a property developer, and in 2006, the long-abandoned mansion was finally demolished. Today, nothing remains except a pair of old gates and a small storage room beside. A quiet remnant of what used to be one of Singapore’s grandest private residences.
Image credit: Google Maps
Interestingly, not long after demolition, the area made the headlines. A landslide occurred at the site during stabilisation works, and just when people thought it was a one-off, another landslide struck again in 2007, at the exact same spot.
Coincidence? Maybe. Or maybe… Hillview Mansion wasn’t quite ready to rest in peace.
Hillview Mansion: once a haunted house, now a barren land
Of all the “coloured houses” that made up Singapore’s haunted folklore, the Green House is the only one that remains undeveloped.
The Red House in Pasir Ris is now a preschool. The White House in Punggol became a condo clubhouse. But the Green House? Still an empty, gated patch of land, a quiet void in the middle of Hillview, as if holding onto its mysteries.
For a country where land is precious, it’s surprising how many of these old, eerie sites still exist, each carrying their own stories and urban legends.
Maybe one day, Hillview Mansion’s land will be reborn as something new. But until then, it remains one of Singapore’s most memorable ghost stories.
Grab some popcorn, turn on some eerie ambient music and read more spooky stories:
- 7 homes with unsettling dark pasts in Singapore
- 6 most haunted HDB estates in Singapore
- 7 infamous haunted HDBs with stories that’ll give you goosebumps
Cover image adapted from: Tbone Explores, James Tann
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