Aw Boon Haw and Aw Boon Par were born as the second and third sons of a poor Hakka herbalist. Although ethnically Chinese, they were born in Rangoon, Burma, where their parents had migrated to escape war and poverty. The family ran a small medicine hall in Rangoon, offering affordable herbal remedies known as Eng Aun Tong to other overseas Chinese and locals.
Their father initially planned for both sons to receive an English education. However, Boon Haw proved to be what would now be called a “paikia” in Hokkien—someone who is troublesome and rebellious. He often skipped school, roamed the streets, got into fights, and came home bruised. After being expelled for assaulting a teacher, Boon Haw was sent to China, while Boon Par continued his Western education.
The brothers reunited after their father's death, who had largely given up on Boon Haw. Boon Par took over the family business, and together, the brothers improved their ointment. To mark the new business venture, Boon Haw named the product Ban Kim Ewe. "Ban," meaning 10,000, signified prosperity, "kim" stood for gold, the ultimate wealth, and "ewe," a Hokkien term for oil, completed the name. Thus, the Ten Thousand Golden Oil, a remedy for all ailments, was born.
The ointment's success was immediate. To broaden their market beyond traditional Chinese customers, the brothers renamed their product "Tiger Balm" in 1918. With appealing packaging and smart marketing, Tiger Balm and its sister products quickly became household staples in Malaya and across Southeast Asia.
Just when everything seemed to be running smoothly, a squad of policemen arrived at the brothers’ residence in Rangoon to accuse them of illicit opium trafficking and counterfeiting currency. Although the charges were never proven, the humiliation was severe. Even as one of the wealthiest families in Rangoon, the brothers decided to relocate their business to Singapore.
In Singapore, where the colony bore his namesake, Boon Haw began constructing a new factory and headquarters for Eng Aun Tong at the corner of Neil Road and Craig Road. By 1926, the impressive three-storey neo-classical building was ready for business. Boon Par settled at Tanglin Road.
Tiger Balm 1930s
Aw Boon Haw was a marketing genius behind Tiger Balm, known for grabbing attention with flair. He wore a pair of 18-carat gold spectacles—not due to any vision issues, but because he believed they made him appear more distinguished. (According to Sam King, Boon Haw had initially requested 24K gold, but the spectacle-maker objected, stating that the metal would be too soft.)
Boon Haw also drove a flashy German NSU adorned with a striking custom tiger head, which became the talk of the town. Sam King described the car’s appearance: “No animal, no matter how beastly, had ever been so maligned as that grotesque specimen of a tiger.”
Advertising space in newspapers was expensive. Instead of paying exorbitant fees for small ads, Boon Haw decided to print his own newspaper filled with promotions for his products. He founded the Singapore Tiger Standard specifically to advertise his goods. The Aw family also established the Chinese daily Sin Chew Jit Poh and expanded their newspaper empire to other cities, including Penang, Amoy, Bangkok, and Hong Kong.
This 1925 Buick Tiger Car, currently on display at Haw Par Villa, is modelled after the original Tiger Cars. It was kept by an Australian farmer for nearly 40 years before it was sold to Dr Ivor Thevathasan, a vintage car enthusiast in Singapore. It was acquired by Singapore Tourism Board and placed at haw Par Villa again.
As his wealth grew alongside the brand’s continued success, Boon Haw decided it was time to show his appreciation to his brother for the ointment they had acquired years earlier in Rangoon, which had brought them such great wealth and fame.
In 1935, he purchased a large piece of land on Pasir Panjang Road in Singapore to build Haw Par Villa, a sprawling mansion that would serve as a unique and fitting residence for Boon Par.
Ho Kwong Yew, a brilliant young architect, was commissioned to design the house, aligning with Boon Haw’s vision of a Tiger Balm Garden filled with thousands of statues and tableaux depicting scenes from Chinese myths and folklore.
The villa was completed in March 1937, just before the Sino-Japanese War. Boon Par lived there only a few years before fleeing with his family to Rangoon when the Japanese Imperial Army invaded Singapore in 1942. He passed away in the Burmese capital two years later.
Sam King’s book on the life of the Aw brothers was published in 1992.
Built in 1937, Haw Par Villa, Singapore’s largest outdoor art gallery is the brainchild of Aw Boon Haw, the millionaire philanthropist and marketing extraordinaire who gifted the world Tiger Balm.
Since 2015, it has been managed by Journeys Pte Ltd, an award-winning heritage specialist passionate in preserving and bringing the heritage gem to greater heights. Its passionate team comprises historians, researchers, educators, writers, and guides who specialise in unearthing historical gems and curating creative, immersive and enriching experiences.
Walking tour discovering Hainan’s roots, with a Hainanese guide by your side, make hands-on Hainan treats, where food and culture collide.
Walk through a village full of heart, where inclusion plays a part.
Narrated by Charmaine Leung, this tour explores her childhood in Singapore's red-light district and her mother’s brothel, shedding light on the lives of marginalized women.
Candles bloom, hearts make room, lenses zoom — illuminating lives, one candle at a time.
