Dates from 1887. Founded by Armenian brothers. At the time Asians were not allowed at the hotel. This main building was completed in 1899. The hotel went into receivership in the Great Depression, but survived. More than 300 Japanese troops committed suicide in the hotel using grenades following their defeat when Singapore was liberated. It was at tThe hotel that Singapore's last surviving wild tiger was killed. The hotel is where the Singapore Sling drink was invented around 1912.