Sir Stamford Raffles
Statue Restoration

The Statue

A Singapore Landmark

Unveiled in 1972, this polymarble statue at Boat Quay on the bank of the Singapore River is believed to mark the precise location where Sir Stamford Raffles first landed in 1819. It is a replica of the original bronze statue that stands outside the Victoria Concert Hall — one of the most recognised figures in Singapore's civic landscape.

The statue faces the river, gazing outward across the water — a pose that has made the rear of the sculpture particularly vulnerable to weather exposure over the decades.

The Condition

Cracking, Rust & Staining

We were engaged to address a specific and visible problem: cracking on the rear of the statue had allowed moisture to penetrate the polymarble, causing internal rusting. The rust was leaching outward through the cracks, forming a distinctive brown stain that ran down the back of the jacket and onto the leg and base — clearly visible against the white of the statue. Left unattended, this kind of crack-and-rust damage typically worsens as moisture finds its way deeper into the structure.

The height and prominent location of the statue along the busy Boat Quay waterfront required us to erect scaffolding to safely access the affected areas at the rear of the figure.

The Treatment

Repair & Restoration

With scaffold access in place, the cracks were carefully repaired and the rust source addressed. The treated areas were then repainted using a specially formulated outdoor paint, colour-matched to the existing white of the statue to ensure a seamless and consistent finish across the full sculpture. The rust staining was fully resolved, restoring the statue to the clean, dignified appearance appropriate for one of Singapore's most visible public landmarks.