The house of an Armenian priest built in 1835 in Singapore will be transformed into a museum and library next year, straitstimes.com reports.

Photojournalist Desmond Lim got access into the interior of the house, which is currently looked after by volunteers.

Its walls are adorned with maps of Armenia and the community’s photo albums, while the portraits of the Armenian Catholicoses hang in the reception room.

This set of antique containers for the vanity table in one of the rooms was left to Madam Loretta Sarkies by her father, Mr Arathoon Sarkies – representative of the famous Sarkies family, who has hotels in the South-Eastern Asia.

Armenians began to settle in Singapore in late 18th century. Currently the Armenian church of St. Gregory the Illuminator operates in Singapore.