For regular visitors to Botanic Gardens or Cluny Court who’ve wondered who lives behind those long, leafy driveways across the road, you’re not alone. Cluny Park is one of District 10’s quietest corners, but the Good Class Bungalow (GCB) area has had its fair share of the limelight.
Most recently, a GCB along Lermit Road belonging to the family of Lee Kuan Yew’s late nephew was put up for sale for $98.8 million in July 2026. Here are 6 facts about the Cluny Park GCB enclave, from its movie-famous mansion to how non-billionaires can live in this cluster.
Contents
- 1. Cluny Park’s name has 2 possible origins
- 2. Cluny Road used to have its own railway station
- 3. The “Crazy Rich Asians” house is a real home on Cluny Park
- 4. Lermit Road GCB owned by Lee Kuan Yew’s nephew’s family listed for $98.8M
- 5. Only 3 GCB transactions recorded on Lermit Road since 1995
- 6. You can live in the Cluny Park GCB enclave without owning a bungalow
- One of Singapore’s most exclusive GCB neighbourhoods
1. Cluny Park’s name has 2 possible origins
According to the NLB, there are 2 commonly cited theories behind the “Cluny” name. One traces it to Jacob Clunis, who was a First Pilot of the New Harbour, now known as Keppel Harbour, as well as a blacksmith at Telok Ayer. Another suggests the name came from the former Cluny Estate, which was itself named after Cluny in Scotland.
The area also has longstanding ties to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. When the Gardens were established at its present site in 1859, Cluny Road formed part of its northern boundaries. The road once ran through the Gardens, dividing it into 2 sections, before it was realigned during redevelopment in the late 1980s. Part of the former road was subsequently renamed Cluny Park Road, as we know it today.
Today, Cluny Park is one of Singapore’s 39 designated Good Class Bungalow areas. It sits beside Cluny Hill, a separate GCB area that’s also home to some seriously wealthy residents, including Haidilao co-founder Sean Shi.
2. Cluny Road used to have its own railway station
Cluny Road Railway Station (circled)
Image adapted from: National Archives of Singapore
Back at the start of the 20th century, Cluny Road and its surrounding area used to be served by a railway station. The Cluny Road Railway Station used to operate along Bukit Timah Road, opened in 1st January 1903, as one of Singapore’s first 4 stations, before closing in 1932.
Some of these station locations might sound familiar today. Trains ran from Tank Road through Newton Station and Cluny Road Station to Bukit Timah, before the line was extended to Woodlands a few months later.
3. The “Crazy Rich Asians” house is a real home on Cluny Park
Screenshot from: Google Maps
The GCBs in this neighbourhood aren’t just home to real-life crazy rich Asians. One even made an appearance in Crazy Rich Asians as the Goh family mansion, home to Peik Lin and her family.
While the home on Cluny Park is an actual private residence, its extravagant gold interiors were largely created for the film, with the set design reportedly inspired by Versailles’ famous Hall of Mirrors.
Since filming, the house has been repainted with a yellow-and-blue facade, but the iconic gold fountain can still be spotted through the front gate. At the height of the film’s popularity, the mansion even became something of a tourist attraction, with tour buses passing through the neighbourhood for a glimpse of the famous house.
4. Lermit Road GCB owned by Lee Kuan Yew’s nephew’s family listed for $98.8M
Image credit: JLL
One of the GCBs making headlines this year is 4A Lermit Road, which was put up for sale in July with an asking price of $98.8 million.
Just off Cluny Road and Nassim Road, the property belongs to the family of the late Lee Howe Yong, Lee Kuan Yew’s nephew. His father, Dennis Lee Kim Yew, was Lee Kuan Yew’s younger brother and co-founded the law firm Lee & Lee with him and Kwa Geok Choo in 1955.
Interestingly, this is the property’s third attempt at finding a buyer. Its asking price has been reduced several times over the years:
- August 2023: $137.2 million ($4,600 psf)
- January 2024: $105 million ($3,521 psf)
- July 2026: $98.8 million ($3,313 psf)
The current price is now at a $38.4 million reduction, or nearly 28% cheaper, from its original asking price. While many neighbouring GCB plots have been subdivided and redeveloped over the years, this is one of the few remaining plots in the area measuring close to 30,000 sqft.
The 29,818sqft freehold plot comes with a 2-storey house built in 1995, featuring 6 bedrooms and approximately 10,000sqft of built-up space. Other features include a swimming pool surrounding the property and full-height windows overlooking the Singapore Botanic Gardens. There’s also enough parking space for up to 15 cars across the garage and driveway.
The house was reportedly vacant when it was put up for sale, making it a potential candidate for redevelopment.
5. Only 3 GCB transactions recorded on Lermit Road since 1995
A GCB along Lermit Road.
Screenshot from: Google Maps
GCBs in Cluny Park don’t change hands very often, and Lermit Road is a good example of just how rare that is. There are just 14 GCBs along the street, with only 3 recorded transactions since 1995.
The first was 1 Lermit Road, which sold for $12.3 million in 2010, already a hefty sum back then. The other 2 transactions involved 4 Lermit Road, which sold for $28.3 million in 2017 and again for $34.75 million in 2020, and is now undergoing redevelopment.
Besides wealthy homeowners, the neighbourhood also has some high-profile residents, including ambassadors and high commissioners. The French Embassy is located along Cluny Park Road, while other diplomatic missions are just a short drive away. These include the US Embassy and Australian High Commission on Napier Road, as well as the British High Commission on Tanglin Road.
6. You can live in the Cluny Park GCB enclave without owning a bungalow
Image credit: Knight Frank
You don’t need a $98.8 million GCB to live in this exclusive neighbourhood. For those with a slightly more modest budget, there’s Cluny Park Residence, a freehold condominium at 99 Cluny Park Road, right beside the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Image credit: Knight Frank
The boutique development has just 52 units, each with its own private lift. Ground-floor units even come with private swimming pools, while residents can enjoy a rooftop infinity pool and gym overlooking the surrounding GCBs.
Botanic Gardens MRT Station is practically at the doorstep, just a 2-minute walk away, while eateries and shops at Serene Centre and Cluny Court are right behind the condo.
Of course, owning the postal code still comes at a premium. Condo units are currently on sale from Condo units have been listed for sale from around $2.35 million, while rentals start from approximately $6,100/month.
One of Singapore’s most exclusive GCB neighbourhoods
With its sprawling bungalows, rich history, and proximity to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, Cluny Park has plenty more to offer than just multimillion-dollar homes.
While owning a bungalow is out of reach for most of us, you’ll know there’s more to the neighbourhood than its wealthy residents.
For more GCB reads:
- Hao Mart CEO’s spacecraft-like Jervois Hill GCB faces possible foreclosure
- Did you know a GCB’s minimum plot size equals 12 five-room HDB flats?
- 7 lesser-known facts about Brizay Park
Cover image adapted from: Google Maps, JLL
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