Atkinson Clock Tower
Sabah
Atkinson Clock Tower, located on Signal Hill in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, is the oldest surviving structure in the city and a significant historical monument. Built in 1905 to honor Francis George Atkinson, Jesselton's first district officer who died of malaria at age 28, the tower was a gift from his mother. Constructed primarily from Mirabau wood, the clock tower stands approximately 15.24 meters tall with a square base and features a two-faced clock made by William Potts and Sons of Leeds, England. Its chimes once echoed across the town, serving as a timekeeper and a navigational landmark for ships approaching Jesselton's harbor. The tower's white exterior walls were illuminated at night, aiding maritime navigation until the 1950s when land reclamation obscured its view from the sea. Over the years, the tower has undergone several renovations, including repairs after damage during World War II and structural restorations in 1959 and 1961, which altered the clock's face and replaced weathered timbers. Today, the Atkinson Clock Tower remains a protected heritage site under Sabah's cultural preservation laws, symbolizing the growth of Kota Kinabalu from a colonial township to a modern city while maintaining a connection to its past.
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Tip: Visitors should plan to see the Atkinson Clock Tower during daylight hours to appreciate its historic wooden architecture and panoramic views from Signal Hill. Early mornings or late afternoons offer cooler temperatures and better lighting for photography. No entry fee is required, but donations to the Sabah Museum, which maintains the tower, are appreciated. While the clock tower is accessible year-round, checking local weather conditions is advisable. Guided tours of the surrounding area may provide additional historical context. Since the tower is a heritage site, visitors should respect preservation rules and avoid climbing or touching delicate parts.
Interesting facts
- •The clock mechanism was made by William Potts and Sons, a renowned clockmaker from Leeds, England, established in 1883.
- •The clock tower's carpentry shows characteristics of shipbuilding craftsmanship, likely due to involvement of naval shipwrights.
- •Its chimes were once broadcast over Radio Sabah before the BBC World News during the 1950s.
- •The tower was illuminated at night to serve as a lighthouse for ships approaching Jesselton harbor until the 1950s.
- •Despite extensive land reclamation that moved the shoreline far from the tower, it remains a prominent historical landmark in Kota Kinabalu.
History
The Atkinson Clock Tower was commissioned in 1905 as a memorial to Francis George Atkinson, the first district officer of Jesselton who died in 1902 from malaria.
Funded by Atkinson's friends and supported by shipwrights, the wooden tower was constructed using Mirabau wood with carpentry resembling shipbuilding techniques.
It functioned as a maritime landmark for ships entering the port until the 1950s when land reclamation blocked its sea view.
The tower sustained damage during World War II but was repaired by local watchmakers.
Subsequent renovations in 1959 and 1961 restored and altered its structure and clock face.
The site was officially gazetted as a heritage landmark in 1983 and reaffirmed under Sabah's State Heritage Enactment in 2017.
Place Guide
Main Structure and Clock Faces1905
The wooden clock tower stands 15.24 meters tall with a square base measuring 6 feet 3 inches on each side. It has two clock faces visible from different directions, originally illuminated for night visibility. The clock mechanism was crafted by William Potts and Sons in Leeds, England, and the carpentry exhibits shipwright techniques.
Location on Signal Hill
Situated on a bluff along Signal Hill Road, the tower overlooks the city of Kota Kinabalu and was historically visible from the sea, aiding maritime navigation. The area has since undergone significant land reclamation, altering the tower's proximity to the shoreline.
Contact
Phone: 088-212 121
