How important is it to preserve the past? While we are often encouraged to move along and keep pressing forward, there are instances when it is essential to glance back and learn from the past in order to build a better future. David Wee, owner of Wee's Collection, passionately explains how his museum was established with that very purpose of providing a physical space for learning, and simply cherishing memories.
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The next time you pass by Changi Road, you might spot a house not quite the same as the others. With retro fixtures and multiple trishaws parked at the front yard, it beckons one to take a closer look. This front yard is none other than the home of David Wee, owner of Wee's Collection, a captivating private heritage museum situated right in the front yard of his home.
Each item at this homely museum carries its own narrative, offering glimpses into the lives, experiences, and traditions of those who came before us. From a vintage mobile cinema, an old school push cart stall, and even a scene of Singapore’s old streets recreated in the front yard. The museum's ambience evokes a sense of nostalgia, allowing visitors to relive cherished memories or, for the younger generations, experience a world they have only heard about in stories.
David founded Wee's Collection in 2012, but establishing a heritage museum wasn't always his primary goal. In the beginning, he focused only on buying and renting out his collections.
“Wee’s Collection was born from my personal passion. It’s not easy to sustain an independent museum in Singapore so at first, I started as a sub-business that bought, sold, and rented heritage stuff. The idea came about one day when I was at the Joo Chiat Community Centre’s Heritage Night and the chairman was telling me they had a hard time finding the props for the event. Then I told him, why don't you come to my place to take a look? After which, he was interested in my collection and wanted to rent from me. That kicked off the idea for my rental business,” David shares.
Whatever people want to throw away, I would take them in and store them all in my house.
However, it is safe to say that the museum was already in the making since his childhood, as David began his collecting journey very early in life. “The first item of my collection was an F&N glass. When I was young, I often went to flea markets with my father. I was at the Sungei Road Flea Market one time and spotted this glass. I remembered drinking from it as a little child so I bought it for memory’s sake. That item sparked off my entire Singapore heritage collection. I started collecting glass, documents, and all kinds of things over the years. Whatever people want to throw away, I would take them in and store them all in my house,” he says.
On his frequent visits to Malaysia for their flea markets, David would also stop by the private museums that populated the old shophouses there. This inspired him to start organising and further refurbishing the museum during the pandemic.
“During Covid-19, the events industry was gravely affected. Therefore, I decided to use the time I had to develop this gallery. I also frequent Malaysia’s flea markets. Over there, the rental is low and they can easily rent shophouses and convert them into museums. I was inspired, I wanted to do something like that in Singapore, so I started clearing away my things and slowly converting my front yard into the seven sets you see now – barber, provision shop, coffee shop, tailor shop, chinese medical hall, old Singapore street scene and the trishaw setting,” he says.
The process of assembling the seven sets took three years, with a dedicated effort to ensure their completeness and accuracy, slowly morphing into the remarkable museum it has become today. People, both old and young, can visit the museum and fully immerse themselves in an environment that no longer exists today.
I developed this place in hopes to educate the younger generation on Singapore’s history. Also for the older generation, I hope that the museum can help them remember the good old days.
“I developed this place in hopes to educate the younger generation on Singapore’s history. Also for the older generation, I hope that the museum can help them remember the good old days. Overall, the museum is more for education purposes. It is also a platform to showcase to my clients if they’re looking to rent from me but are unable to visualise it,” he explains.
Naturally with such a unique set up, people were interested to use Wee’s Collection as photoshoot sets. “Photoshoots and all came quite unexpectedly. Instead of going to find seven different places, people can just come here and shoot everything in a single location,” he says.
Whenever all these old shops close down, I try to acquire as much heritage as I can, hoping one day I can tell stories to people that stay in Joo Chiat.
Now, after collecting for more than 25 years, he has accumulated more than 2,500 items sourced from everywhere and anyone. Over the years, he is also part of local communities that are keeping Singapore’s old spaces and heritage alive. “Whenever all these old shops close down, I try to acquire as much heritage as I can, hoping one day I can tell stories to people that stay in Joo Chiat. I’m also a part of certain Facebook groups that consist of people that used to live in a particular area. So when I have something that belongs to that area, I will post it there as memories for people, and vice versa,” he says.
It is important to understand our past. Singapore doesn't have a very long history. We have to understand our past so we can cherish our present and realise how far we have come and better plan for our future.
Being one of the “sandwich” generation that witnessed how things were before and after modernisation, David is even more determined to preserve the past because he believes in the invaluable lessons it holds for the present and future generations. “Without all these collectibles, you don't have a chance to see what life was like back in the day – what your parents and grandparents went through. It is important to understand our past. Singapore doesn't have a very long history. We have to understand our past so we can cherish our present and realise how far we have come and better plan for our future. That's what I always tell people,” he says.
When people come to Singapore, you will see a lot of new things like the Marina Bay Sands and also a lot of old things that are renovated and made new like the National Gallery of Singapore, churches – things that are of historical importance. But then what about the things in between? They all disappeared. That’s why I started Wee’s Collection.
This is even more so in a country like ours that is developing very quickly. “Singapore is very different from Malaysia, where a shop is run by several generations without fail. 95 percent of Singapore is mostly developed. Not many kampongs left. When people come to Singapore, you will see a lot of new things like the Marina Bay Sands and also a lot of old things that are renovated and made new like the National Gallery of Singapore, churches – things that are of historical importance. But then what about the things in between? They all disappeared. That’s why I started Wee’s Collection,” he shares.
By preserving these artefacts and creating an environment where history is tangible, David aims to inspire curiosity, foster a deep appreciation for cultural heritage, and encourage thoughtful reflections on the progress made over the years. The museum stands not merely as a passive repository of relics but as an active catalyst for dialogue, encouraging visitors to engage with the past and contemplate how it has shaped the present and will influence the future.
The students learn history through books, but nothing beats seeing the actual thing.
“This is a chance for me to showcase and keep some memories that I can for the next generation. I can't keep everything, because there are too many things. We try to keep as much as we can to benefit the next generation. If people don't keep these old things, it’s very hard for the younger generation to know more about Singapore's past. The students learn history through books, but nothing beats seeing the actual thing,” he says.
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