Singaporeans generally know of two istanas in Singapore - the office of the Republic's President and Istana Kampong Glam, the present-day Malay Heritage Centre.

Heritage buffs might be familiar with another two: the Istana Woodneuk and the torn-down Istana Tyersall. These derelict buildings near the Singapore Botanic Gardens were once the palaces of Johor's former Temenggong Abu Bakar Daeng Ibrahim.