The ‘flea markets’ in Singapore

In Singapore, there are very few regular flea markets to find second hand toys from the 80’s.  The 2 largest ones that I know of and had been to during my early toy collecting days were at Sungei Road (near Bugis/Rochor Road) and at Clarke Quay (now moved to China Square Central, near Chinatown). 

The flea market at Sungei Road, which I believe is still operating, is peddled by older or elderly sellers and they sell almost everything under the sun, usually ‘antique-looking’ items that the younger generations have mostly not seen or not familiar with.  You can also find old toys there, from current ones to those from the 80’s and beyond, if you can recognise those.  This flea market is held along a series of disused minor roads.  The peddlers just simply set up large parasols to shield themselves and their wares from the hot equatorial sun of Singapore.  Shoppers must use an umbrella while browsing if not the hot Singapore sun would get to them before they can complete their rounds.  The shoppers there were mostly middle-aged and above.  The last time I was there many years ago, there were over 50 stalls.  I had ever managed to find some stuff toys in decent conditions there.

The most popular and niched ‘flea market’ for trading and finding toys is now situated at China Square Central, on weekends from 9am to 5pm.  Most collectors visit it on Sundays where there are more activities and traders.  This toy market used to be held at Clarke Quay on Sundays, from 9am to 5pm.  When it was at Clarke Quay, there were weekly stalls outside and inside the cannery building there.  Some were permanent toy shops inside the building.  The stalls allocated inside the cannery building enjoyed air conditioning like the permanent shops in there. 

This kind of flea market was considered luxurious, compared to the more traditional open air garage sales flea markets that I had visited in Melbourne.  The flea markets in Australia are literally huge carparks where the sellers parked their vehicles in the parking lots and then opened their car boots to peddle their wares.  This method would not be too popular here in Singapore unless the carpark is indoors and well ventilated.  The sellers and shoppers would have fainted under the Singapore hot sun!  Most Singaporeans, like me do not like to be under the hot sun anyway.

A few years ago, Clarke Quay was revamped by its management into night activities hub with restaurants and pubs to attract more tourists.  Hence the flea market had to move and found its new home at China Square Central near Chinatown.  Now all the weekly stalls are located inside the air-conditioned commercial building and many of the familiar toys shops from Clarke Quay also moved there.  This toy market has since undergone much change and transformation, not just in its location, but more on the variety of toys you find there. 

To be continued tomorrow……