The city's oldest structure
A timber tower from 1905.
(WT-shared) Robert Biuk-Aghai — CC BY-SA 1.0 · Ivo Kruusamägi — CC BY-SA 4.0 · shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates — CC BY 2.0 · shankar s. from Dubai, united arab emirates — CC BY 2.0
The oldest standing structure in Kota Kinabalu, a small timber clock tower on a bluff above the city centre, completed in 1905 in memory of Francis George Atkinson, the first district officer of the town when it was called Jesselton, who died of malaria at twenty-eight at the end of 1902. His mother gave the town a two-faced clock, and this tower was built for it. The tower was raised in hard merbau wood to about fifteen metres, and its clock was made in Leeds in England. It was lit at night and visible from the sea, so ships used it as a navigation mark until the 1950s. It survived the Second World War, which destroyed most of the town. The visit is very short, the tower is seen from outside only, and it is free. But it is a lovely stop on a walk around the centre, and from here you can climb to nearby Signal Hill, which looks out over the city, the sea and the islands. Pair it with Gaya Street directly below the hill, especially on Sunday morning during the market, then with the waterfront. The climb is short but steep, so morning or late afternoon is kinder than midday.
A timber tower from 1905.
Lit at night and seen from the sea.
A clock given in memory of her son.
Signal Hill Road, above the city centre
As a short stop on a walking tour, yes, especially with Signal Hill and its view. On its own it is not worth a special trip.
