Lim Loh

Introduction

Lim Loh (林路; 1852 – 1929), also known as Lim Chee Gee (林志义), 林露, or 林云龙, was born in Nan’an County in Fujian Province, China. He arrived at Penang in 1880 and moved to Singapore a few months later. He was a pioneer building contractor who built several well-known buildings like the Victoria Memorial Hall, Old Parliament House, Goodwood Park Hotel and Hong San See Temple. Besides being in the trading and construction businesses, he also owned a rubber plantation that was then bounded by Braddell, Woskel and Upper Serangoon roads; two brick factories and a biscuit factory around Braddell Heights. He had six wives, 19 sons, 10 of whom were adopted, and nine daughters. War hero Lim Bo Seng was his 11th son and first born. Lim Loh passed away at 77 on 11 December 1929.

Selected books on Lim Loh

• 柯木林. (主编). [Ke, M. L. (Ed.).] (1995). 新华历史人物列传 [Who’s who in the Chinese community of Singapore]. 新加坡: 教育出版公司, p. 125. Call no.: RSING 959.570092 WHO-[HIS]. The book contains the biographies of 1,175 Chinese personalities in Singapore, covering the period from 1819 to 1990. Each biography contains information on the birth and death date, dialect group, occupation and affiliated organisations of the Chinese personality. Lim Loh’s biography is also included.

• 新加坡南安会馆六十周年纪念特刊 [Singapore Lam Ann Association 60th Anniversary]. (1987). 新加坡: [该会馆], p. 193. Call no.: RSING 369.25957 SIN There is a short write up on Lim Loh in this title.

Selected newspaper articles on Lim Loh

• 陈煜. (2018, May 31). 林谋盛的谜样家族 – 林路及其妻妾子女 [The intriguing Lim Bo Seng family – Lim Loh and his wives and children]. 联合早报. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. This news article provides a detailed write-up on Lim Loh’s family, and mentions the return of Lim Loh’s ancestral tablet to Singapore from Adelaide, Australia.

• 谢燕燕. (2016, August 14). 林谋盛后人忆当年 掀尘封往事 看诡谲人生 [Lim Bo Seng’s descendants recalling the past]. 联合早报. Retrieved from Factiva. The descendants of Lim Bo Seng shared their growing up years and memories of their father and grandfather, Lim Loh.

• Tan, T. (2008, August 14). Rare gift for SAM, The Straits Times, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. A report on the donation of Xu Beihong’s portrait of Lim Loh by the Lim family.

• The late Mr Lim Loh. (1930, January 6). Malaya Tribune, p. 8. Retrieved from NewspaperSG. An article on the 50 years of Lim Loh’s life in Singapore, his charitable deeds and his rise to success.