GOH LOO CLUB
GOH LOO CLUB AT A GLANCE
1905年（光绪三十一年），清政府驻新加坡领事孙士鼎、陈卓然等人，于古宁街（Cross Street）124号创办 “古寄乐” ，作为养闲宴乐的场所。陈卓然任第一届正总理，成员除清廷驻新加坡的外交官之外，多数为本地富商才俊。
1907年， “古寄乐” 更名为 “吾庐俱乐部” ，取意 “吾爱吾庐” ，典出陶渊明《读山海经》名句： “众鸟欣有托，吾亦爱吾庐” 。
OUR STORY
Formerly located at 124A Cross Street, the club moved to its current location at 72 Club Street with the help of its members, including Dr Lim Boon Keng and Lee Kong Chian, who set up Sit Giap Company (Private) Limited and purchased the property for the club.
Initially established as Goh Kee Club (古寄乐) in 1905, the club was renamed to its current name in 1907. Derived from the poetic expression by Chinese poet Tao Yuanming “吾亦爱吾庐”, the name Goh Loo Club (吾盧俱樂部) translates to ‘my humble hut’
吾庐俱乐部 简介
目前吾庐俱乐部内悬挂的一幅书法：“吾亦爱吾庐”，系清末名士朱汝珍为吾庐前总理陈延谦先生题写的百年墨华。
朱汝珍（1870年－1942年），原名倬冠，字玉堂，号聘三，又号隘园，广东清远人。光绪三十年（1904年）参加清廷最后一次科举考试，考中第二名榜眼。朱汝珍擅长诗文，以书法名世。他的书法师出名家，遒劲清秀，深受称许。
吾庐俱乐部本身不是政治团体，但20世纪初，孙中山领导的革命运动在新加坡引起很大反响，具有民族意识的本地华商纷纷予以支持。
孙中山先生在新加坡成立南洋同盟会后，吾庐社友邱国瓦、陈延谦、陈楚楠等人不但加入南洋同盟会，而且数度捐助巨款。陈楚楠同时也是南洋同盟会最重要的领导人之一，是孙中山在新加坡最亲密的战友。
吾庐俱乐部迄今悬挂的“吾庐”匾额，即由孙中山秘书陶文波题写。陶文波文笔优秀，曾长期追随孙中山，任文职秘书或参事。
1927年，陈延谦、邱国瓦等吾庐董事联合三十三名实业家，共同出资买下位于客纳街的房地产，作为吾庐俱乐部的永久会址。
战前，吾庐会员多数是闽帮商人，长期居领导地位的是金融界巨子，如邱国瓦与陈延谦。他们同为华侨银行的创始人，并长期担任该行总理。邱国瓦自1911年至1931年担任吾庐总理凡二十年之久，1932年才由胡先愿取代。陈延谦从1913年起担任吾庐查账，1919年起任副总理，1934年至1939年正式担任吾庐总理。
吾庐早期活动每逢星期天便由社友轮流请宴，当天酒席各项经费由东道做主，冠盖云集，周而复始。
吾庐也多次支援中国民族运动以及救济灾民与难民的活动。尤其1937年“卢沟桥事变”后，中国抗战全面爆发。新马华人在爱国华侨陈嘉庚领导下，组织了“南洋华侨筹赈祖国难民总会”。陈嘉庚当选为总会主席，吾庐总理陈延谦任常务理事。陈嘉庚先生于1939年率领回国慰劳团赴中国，陈延谦曾任星华筹赈会代理主席。
INTRODUCTION OF GOH LOO CLUB
Initially established as Goh Kee Club (古寄乐) in 1905, the club was renamed to its current name in 1907. Derived from a poetic expression by Chinese poet Tao Yuanming, “吾亦爱吾庐”, the name Goh Loo Club (吾盧俱樂部) translates as “my humble hut”.
During the club’s early years, many of its members took part in the revolution to overthrow the Qing dynasty by making generous donations to Sun Yat Sen and the Chinese Revolutionary League.
Prior to the Japanese Occupation, the club’s members were mainly Hokkiens, including prominent figures such as See Tiong Wah, Khoo Kok Wah, Tan Kah Kee, Tan Lark Sye and Lee Kong Chian. Many members supported the anti-Japanese movement in China through the Nanyang Federation of China Relief Funds.
During the Japanese Occupation, it was the only club in the Ann Siang Hill precinct that remained in operation. On 27 February 1942, shortly after the fall of Singapore, Japanese soldiers gathered a dozen prominent Chinese leaders who had failed to escape and summoned them to the Goh Loo Club. About 250 prominent Chinese figures subsequently congregated at the inaugural meeting of the Overseas Chinese Association, where they were ordered to pledge S$50 million in Straits dollars to the Japanese war fund.
After the end of the war, the Basketball Association of Singapore occupied the first floor from 1946 to 1970. In the 1950s, window grilles depicting people playing basketball were added.
By the 21st century, the club had fallen on hard times, and the building was found to be dilapidated in 2012. Squatters were found living inside the building, and several of the club’s paintings were missing. In a bid to revitalise the club’s three-storey shophouse, which had been gazetted for conservation in July 1989, and to attract new members, descendants of the original shareholders initiated a S$3.8 million renovation that lasted 16 months. They also registered a new club entity, “Goh Loo 2012”, to promote historical and cultural studies. The efforts of the descendants of Goh Loo’s shareholders to recapture and preserve the club’s spirit and history were recognised when the building won the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Architectural Heritage Awards in 2016.
The team behind the renovation sought to retain most of the original materials. As much as possible, the original green glazed balustrades, timber joists and floorboards were reused. Significant pieces of old furniture, such as a three-legged mahjong table, were restored and prominently showcased. The first-floor window grilles featuring basketball players, which date back to the 1950s, were also retained, reflecting the building’s history as a centre for promoting basketball among the Chinese community.
The renovations also revealed long-hidden interior columns that had previously been concealed by timber panels. Modern steel beams were added to help support the building’s weight. An external mural depicting the club’s pioneers and the Chinese revolutionary figure Sun Yat Sen was also added.
WHAT WE DO
Making A Difference
SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS
Reinforcing our Commitment
At Goh Loo, we are constantly exploring new ways to enrich our members’ lives through meaningful activities and lifelong learning. From calligraphy classes and the appreciation and study of ancient texts to a range of other enriching courses, our programmes are designed to inspire, broaden perspectives, and bring greater meaning and positivity to everyday life.
MEMBERS NETWORKING
One Step at a Time
During our gatherings at Goh Loo Club, members engage in discussions on a wide range of topics, including health, heritage and culture, current affairs, finance, and more. Our distinguished guests, who come from diverse walks of life, enrich these gatherings by sharing their knowledge, friendship, humour, and unique perspectives on the culture and spirit of Goh Loo.
CULTURAL & ART EVENTS
Our Part Within The Community
Through this initiative, we aim to create meaningful opportunities for those in need. By connecting individuals with the right resources, support, and collaborative networks, we seek to empower them to recognise their strengths, build confidence, and realise their full potential.
We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive. To learn more about our work and how you can be part of this effort, we invite you to get in touch with our team.
