The clock tower was commissioned in 1897 by a wealthy local Chinese businessman, Cheah Chen Eok, to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary) of Queen Victoria’s reign. To symbolize her 60 years on the throne, the tower was designed to be exactly 60 feet tall—one foot for every year. Although construction began in 1900, it was only completed in 1902, one year after the Queen had passed away. The tower's design was the result of a local competition won by municipal engineer Robert Peirce. Over the century, it has survived the Malayan Campaign and Allied bombings of WWII, undergoing a major restoration in 2020 to preserve its intricate masonry and iconic facade.