[11] In 1843, the fort was extended after a sandstone monolith, the Singapore Stone, with an inscription possibly dating back to the 13th century was demolished.

[15] One of the rooms in the Fullerton Building was where the late Finance Minister, Dr. Goh Keng Swee, wrote many of his budget speeches for Singapore.

Fullerton Square was an important commercial zone in Singapore attracting many European immigrants and soon became the core of major business activity.

It was built to replace the Fort Canning Light, which was decommissioned in 1979 since it was gradually blocked because of the construction of more high-rise buildings in Singapore.

The basement was linked to a 35 metres (115 ft) subway, also called the GPO tunnel, that ran underneath Fullerton Road to a pier.

Special mail was sent to neighbouring countries via sea, thus requiring at least 2 months to reach United Kingdom.

During Christmas seasons in the past, the post office would be filled with letters from children directed to Santa Claus.

[22] The exclusive Singapore Club rents premises on the upper floors of the building to provide for their members' need and comfort.

When the Economic Development Board (EDB) was formed in 1961, it evicted the Singapore Club from the Fullerton Building.

[24][25] In the last days before Britain's surrender to Japan in 1942, the building was used as a hospital, with makeshift operation rooms for wounded British soldiers.

[25] The Fullerton Building was also where General Percival discussed with Sir Shenton the possibility of surrendering Singapore to the Japanese.

In time, the Fullerton became a symbol of Singapore, appearing in many postcards, recognised by travellers and ship captains from all over the world.

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore was officially opened by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on 1 January 2001.

Their design works are usually with major significance to a historical period, geographical place and local culture tradition, with many of their buildings in the classical style.

[31] Major Keys & Dowdeswell were established and distinguished designers of grand interior spaces and classical façades.

The building has Neo-classical architectural features which include a two-storey fluted Doric colonnades on their heavy base, and the lofty portico over the main entrance with trophy designs and the Royal Coat of Arms, crafted by Italian Cavaliere Rudolfo Nolli.

[2] A hollow cellular raft foundation was proposed by the original contractors in the 1920s to save cost because bedrock lies directly below the building.

These included the General Post Office gallery area on the ground floor, with bays that corresponded with the building's towering Doric columns on the façade, and the Straits Club Billiard Room.

The post office gallery no longer exists, but has been subdivided to provide a bar, a restaurant and the hotel foyer.

The Fullerton Light, a revolving beacon of 540 kilocandelas mounted on the roof of the building, was installed in 1958 to replace the Fort Canning Lighthouse which was being demolished.

The Fullerton Building was designed for natural ventilation before the age of air-conditioning; one of the architectural devices used to provide this was the internal air-wells.

There were four air-wells along the central longitudinal axis, divided by three internal bays of offices, linking the front façade with the rear.

[6] Two parallel sets of guest rooms now ring the hotel's central triangular sky-lit atrium.

The main entrance into the hotel, where dignitaries and celebrities are received, is covered with a large glass canopy at the porch.

[5][8][15] Construction work in the interior was carried out to reinforce the beams and columns, while retrofitting done on the exterior to restore the façade.

The engineering team installed a new set of five drainage pumps to counteract the slow seepage of river water.

[33] The Fullerton Hotel Singapore won the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List award.

[33] On 18 July 2001, the hotel received an architectural heritage award from the Urban Redevelopment Authority for its successful restoration of the former Fullerton Building.