The market was built in 1891 as a replacement of the Orchard Road Municipal Market, originally known as Koek's Market after its original owner, lawyer Edwin Koek, which was found to be inadequate.[1] The new market only had one wing.[2] In 1902, a six-metre-tall cast-iron fountain made in Glasgow was placed in the market. An expansion was made to the market in 1910, adding another wing and a concrete frontage. The structure was raised a few years later due to frequent flooding. A second building was constructed in 1930, costing $25,000.[1]
In 1948, members of the Municipal Commission of Singapore began contemplating adding a second floor to the market, as the market was too small to serve the increasing population of the district.[3] In September 1950, a proposal for the rebuilding of the market into a two-storey building, which would cost $250,000, was rejected on the grounds that it was not an urgent requirement.[4][5] Instead, essential repairs were made to the market, costing $5,000.[6][7] An $18,000 expansion was made to the fish section of the market in 1954.[8]
In 1978, the market was earmarked for redevelopment by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, with the market's hawkers being relocated to the then newly built Cuppage Centre.[9] The market was demolished in 1979 and was replaced by Orchard Point.[10] The former site of the market has been included in the Orchard Heritage Trail by the National Heritage Board.[11]
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