Built in 1902, this double-storey villa was bought by Singapore pioneer and rubber magnate, Teo Eng Hock in 1905, for his aged mother. It was then named Wan Qing Yuan to symbolise Teo Eng Hock‘s hope that his mother would enjoy peace and happiness in her twilight years. 

When Dr. Sun Yat Sen chose Singapore as the nerve centre of his revolutionary movement in Southeast Asia, Teo Eng Hock offered the place to Dr. Sun to support his revolutionary activities. It was in this very villa that Dr. Sun shared his revolutionary ideals with his Nanyang supporters.

Re-opened to the public on 9 October 2011, the revamped Memorial Hall pays tribute to the vital role played by Singapore and Nanyang in the 1911 Revolution. Focusing on the contributions of Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s key supporters in Singapore, the refurbished museum sheds light on the lesser-known details of Singapore and Nanyang’s involvement in the 1911 Revolution.  

The Memorial Hall also shares how the 1911 Revolution left its lasting imprint on Singapore, especially in the areas of education, print media and economic contributions.  This Singapore and Nanyang-centred focus is what sets the Memorial Hall apart from other museums and institutions dedicated to the legacy of Dr. Sun Yat Sen around the world.  

In addition, the permanent exhibition underwent an enhancement in 2014, making the storyline more comprehensive and interesting. The refreshed galleries now features more artefacts contributed by the community and new multimedia features such as hologram projection and 3D mapping projection.