Fort Canning is situation on a hill originally known called Bukit Larangan (forbidden hill) and it was thought to have been the home of the Kings of Singapura who were the 14th century rulers of the region. The hill was cleared at the direction of the British Resident William Farquhar who build a residence and called it Government House on Government Hill. The House was replaced by Fort Canning in 1859 (which was named after Viscount George Canning the governor-general of India).

The hill also houses the Battle Box (underground military complex used by the British up-until WW2) and a cemetery.