This street scene was taken around the year 1900 when Singapore was well-established as an important outpost of the British empire. With a strategic position on the Malacca Straits, modern Singapore was founded in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles as a trading post for the British East India Company. It became even more important after 1869 with the completion of the Suez Canal, which increased shipping.

In the background of this image sits Government House, which was also completed in 1869. When Singapore attained self-government in 1959 it was renamed the Istana ('palace' in Malay) and is now the official residence of the president of the Republic of Singapore.

Some of the earliest ever photos of the world's capital cities