Dhoby Ghaut MRT station

NSL platforms of the station.

The MRT-station was built on a former Jewish cemetery which was in operation between 1841 and 1983.[7] Before the station was built, it was tentatively named Istana, after the Istana in the vicinity. Its current name, Dhoby Ghaut, was selected to reflect the area's heritage as a traditional Indian laundry.[8][9]

On October 1983, the contract 106 for the design and construction of Dhoby Ghaut and 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of tunnels between Somerset and City Hall stations was awarded to a joint venture between French contractor Campenon-Bernard and Singapore Piling and Civil Engineering Company Limited at a sum of S$51.3 million.[10][11][12] Excavation works were hampered by the soft marine clay at the station site, and jet grouting was used in an effort to stabilise the soil. The soft soil also caused a tunnel cave-in in January 1985, which formed a 6-metre (20 ft) wide hole at Cathay Cinema.[13][14] A fatal accident happened on 17 June that year that led to the death of an engineer as crane fell into the work shaft and on the engineer.[15][16] Investigations revealed that the three pieces of timber meant to support the crane were not properly connected and hence unable to support the crane. The contractor was fined S$1,000 for failing to provide a stable footing for the outrigger of the crane and not posting and maintaining a capacity chart.[17][18][19] Despite the incidents, the structural works for the station completed in September of that year.[20]

The station had an open house on 6 December 1987,[21] and opened for service on 12 December when the line extension to Outram Park station was completed.[22][23][24] In September 2000, works started for lift access to be added to the station.[25]

Dhoby Ghaut was one of four stations which participated in Exercise Northstar V, a mock terrorist exercise held on 8 January 2006.[26][27][28]

NEL platforms in the station

Plans were drawn up in 1986 for a possible north-east line extension from Outram Park via Dhoby Ghaut to Punggol station,[29] resulting in the North East line. The contract C707 for the construction of the NEL station was awarded to Obayashi on 18 March 1996.[30] Contsruction began in January 1997 and completed in 20 October 2001.[31] Challenges of the construction of the NEL station includes the excavation of the five-level underground station, accommodating the large drainage canal that bisected the station, and enabling the station to support the two commercial buildings above ground.[32][33]

The Contract 825 for the design and construction of the circle line station and associated tunnels was awarded to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. (SIngapore) Pte Ltd and a joint venture with Woh Hup and NCC at a sum of S$343.94 million on 19 December 2001.[34][35] To facilitate the construction, part of Orchard Road had to be temporarily realigned.[36] Along with the other stations on Stages 1 and 2, the station started operations on 17 April 2010.[37][38]

The station is served by the North South line, the North East line and the Circle line. On the North South line, the station is located between the Somerset and City Hall stations,[39] with headways of 2 to 5 minutes in both directions.[40] On the North East line, the station is located between the Clarke Quay and Little India stations[39] with frequencies of 2.5 to 5 minutes.[40] The station is the terminus of Circle Line, with the next adjacent station being Bras Basah station.[39] The CCL train frequencies range from 5 to 6 minutes depending on peak hours.[40]

Interchange by Milenko and Delia Prvacki displayed near the NEL platforms of the station.

The station showcases three artworks as part of the Art-in-Transit program for the station. The artwork Interchange by Milenko and Delia Prvacki is displayed on the walls of the linkway between the North South and North East lines. The artwork is a combination of ceramic and mosaic works that spreads across walls, columns and the station floor and spreads out at the foot of the escalators and four sets of column rings. A vibrant, tactile wall mural sees Delia's refined work ceramics fusing seamlessly with Milenko's earthy mosaics. representing the interchange between the stations lines that run through Dhoby Ghaut. The artwork showcases the cultural richness and artistic heritage of Singapore and the region, as well as ideas of permanent movement.[41][42]

Another artwork for the NEL, “Universal Language” by Sun Yu-Li, is intended to guide commuters through a complex interchange station. The floor tiles makes use of a universal language of symbols such as the hunter and the fish line, representing the six routes leading towards the trains. The symbols come together in a large floor mural and stunning wall panel in the heart of the station.[41]

At the CCL concourse, Singaporean artist Baet Yeok Kuan created a three-dimensional relief work "Man and the environment", with 36 white gypsum sculptures spread across on the large columns that support the Circle line section of the station. The sculptures depict patterns that seemingly resembles lotus pods, lily pads, and footprints on the shore or shifting sands. The artwork is meant to urge commuters to have more awareness of little details in their surroundings.[42][43]