It used to exist from 1955 to 1988 as Cairnhill Constituency and was renamed as Cairnhill Single Member Constituency (SMC) as part of Singapore's political reforms.
The SMC was merged into Kampong Glam Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in 1991.
Lim Kim San was the elected Member of Parliament from 1959 to 1980 and then Wong Kwei Cheong from 1980 to 1991.
The constituency was formed during the 1955 Singaporean general election, encompassing Balestier, Rochore and Tanglin wards.
In 1991, the constituency was abolished and merged into Kampong Glam GRC.