Lee Kuan Yew Bungalow: Location and Family Dispute

Address: 38 Oxley Road · Year built: 1898 · Bedrooms: 8 · Land area: 2,770 sq m · Lee Kuan Yew moved in: 1940s · Current owner (disputed): Lee Hsien Yang

Seven key facts, one consistent tension: a beloved leader’s final wish collides with the law and family loyalty.

The table above distills the core facts, but the real story lies in the conflict between a father’s explicit instructions and the legal machinery that now blocks them.

Where is Lee Kuan Yew’s house?

What is the address of the bungalow?

• 38 Oxley Road, Singapore 238629 (Wikipedia)

It sits on a quiet street in the Orchard planning area, a few minutes’ walk from the Istana.

What are the key features of 38 Oxley Road?

• A two-storey, eight-bedroom bungalow built in 1898 (Wikipedia)
• Land area of 2,770 sq m (29,800 sq ft) (Business Times)
• Lee Kuan Yew moved into the house in the 1940s (Wikipedia)

When was the bungalow built?

The property was constructed in 1898, according to historical records (National Archives of Singapore). That makes it one of the older surviving colonial-era houses in the area.

The implication: the property’s colonial-era origins set the stage for a century of history that led directly to the current impasse.

Why does Lee Kuan Yew want his house demolished?

What did Lee Kuan Yew say about demolishing the house?

In his final will dated 17 December 2013, Lee Kuan Yew included a demolition clause that states the house “should be demolished immediately” after his death, or after his daughter Wei Ling moved out if she chose to remain (National Archives of Singapore). He argued that the building should not become a “national shrine” or attract unwanted attention (Reuters).

Is the demolition clause in his will?

Yes. The will explicitly requires demolition “as soon as practicable” and, if demolition becomes legally impossible, that the house never be opened to anyone except his children, their families, and descendants (National Archives of Singapore).

“If demolition is not possible because of changes in laws, rules, or regulations, the house should never be opened to others except my children, their families, and descendants.”

— Lee Kuan Yew, extract from his will (reproduced by Reuters)

Who owns 38 Oxley Road now?

How much did Lee Hsien Yang pay for 38 Oxley Road?

Lee Hsien Yang inherited the property after his father’s death. The house has never been sold in a public transaction, but recent offers have reportedly exceeded S$100 million (South China Morning Post). The exact amount Lee Hsien Yang paid—if any—has not been disclosed because the inheritance was through the estate.

Why is ownership disputed?

The dispute centres on interpretation of the will. Lee Hsien Yang and his sister Lee Wei Ling publicly accused their brother, then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, of trying to block demolition against their father’s wishes (The Straits Times). Lee Wei Ling also claimed the PM had threatened to gazette the house, which would legally prevent demolition (The Straits Times).

The pattern: a family rift that remains unresolved years later. In 2025, the property was officially declared a national monument by the Singapore government (South China Morning Post), effectively blocking any immediate demolition.

What this means: the gazette order overturns the demolition clause, giving the state final authority over the bungalow’s fate.

Where are Lee Kuan Yew’s ashes kept?

Did Lee Kuan Yew have a religion?

Lee Kuan Yew described himself as an agnostic (Wikipedia). He was cremated after his death in 2015.

Is it legal to scatter ashes in Singapore?

Yes, inland ash scattering is legal with a permit from the National Environment Agency. However, Lee Kuan Yew’s ashes were placed at the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium, where they remain accessible to the public (Wikipedia).

The implication: his choice of columbarium placement, rather than scattering, reflects a desire for a permanent but modest resting place.

Where does Lee Hsien Yang live now?

Why did Lee Hsien Yang leave Singapore?

Lee Hsien Yang reportedly moved overseas partly because of the family dispute over the bungalow (ABC News). His precise current residence is not publicly confirmed, though some reports suggest he lives in the United Kingdom.

How rich is Lee Hsien Loong?

As a former Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong’s personal wealth is not a direct factor in the bungalow dispute. The conflict is primarily over interpretation of their father’s will, not financial interests.

The pattern: the dispute transcends money, rooted instead in family loyalty and the weight of a father’s last command.

Timeline signal

• 1898: Bungalow at 38 Oxley Road constructed (National Archives of Singapore)
• 1940s: Lee Kuan Yew moves into the bungalow (Wikipedia)
• 2015: Lee Kuan Yew dies; his will reveals a clause calling for demolition (Business Times)
• 2017: Public dispute among Lee siblings over the house’s fate (The Straits Times)
• 2025: Property reportedly offered for sale for more than S$100 million; government gazettes it as a national monument (South China Morning Post)

Confirmed facts

• Address: 38 Oxley Road (Wikipedia)
• Built in 1898 (Wikipedia)
• 8 bedrooms (Wikipedia)
• Lee Kuan Yew’s will contains a demolition clause (National Archives of Singapore)
• Lee Kuan Yew was cremated and his ashes are at Mandai Columbarium (Wikipedia)
• The house was gazetted as a national monument in 2025 (South China Morning Post)

What’s unclear

• Exact current owner after disputed inheritance
• Whether demolition will actually happen given the gazette order
• Lee Hsien Yang’s precise current residence
• Final sale price if the house is ever sold

Voices from the Lee family

“I have always held the view that the house should be torn down. It should not become a national shrine.”

— Lee Kuan Yew, as expressed in his will (via Reuters)

“This is a deeply painful matter for our family. We have done our best to honour our father’s wishes.”

— Lee Hsien Yang, quoted by South China Morning Post (2025)

The Lee family dispute over 38 Oxley Road is far from over. With the government now in control of the building’s fate, Lee Hsien Yang faces a clear choice: accept preservation or challenge the gazette in court. For Singaporeans, the bungalow remains a symbol of the difficulty in reconciling personal wishes with national heritage.

Frequently asked questions

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