Sabah Tourism Board Building — KK's Heritage Colonial Building on Jalan Gaya

What is the Sabah Tourism Board Building?

The Sabah Tourism Board headquarters is at 51 Gaya Street in the heart of Kota Kinabalu city centre (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). The building is one of the most historically significant structures in KK: it is one of only three structures, with the Atkinson Clock Tower and the Land and Survey building, that were not bombed in World War II (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026).

The building was designed and supervised by JW Norman, a colonial executive engineer (Free Malaysia Today, checked 7 October 2026). Despite many changes over the decades it has kept its 100 ft frontage, 40 ft depth and architectural design (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026).

Today it houses the Sabah Tourism Board. Check with the board about visitor services before you go.

When was the building constructed?

Construction started in 1916, and the building was officially opened by the Chartered Company governor AC Pearson on 16 March 1918. It first housed the government printing department until 1935. From 1936 it held the Audit, Treasury, Bank and Post departments (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026), which is why it is gazetted as the old post office building (Bangunan Pejabat Pos Lama) (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026).

The building dates from the mature phase of Chartered Company rule, when Jesselton was growing as a west coast port.

During the Japanese occupation it was occupied by the Yokohama Specie Bank, the Treasury and Posts (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026). Allied bombing raids between December 1944 and July 1945 flattened most of Jesselton (Daily Express, checked 7 October 2026), but this building was one of the very few pre-war structures that survived.

How did it survive WWII bombing?

Kota Kinabalu (then Jesselton) suffered heavy destruction during World War II. Allied bombing raids ran from December 1944 to July 1945 (Daily Express, checked 7 October 2026), and the town was razed.

Only three structures were not bombed. The Sabah Tourism Board Building was one of them. The exact reasons for its survival are not entirely clear from historical records. It may have been spared because of its structural resilience, its location away from military targets, or simple luck. What is certain is that it represents a rare physical link to the pre-war colonial period.

The survival of the building, along with the Atkinson Clock Tower and the Land and Survey building, makes it an invaluable historical monument. The Sabah Museum lists it, as Bangunan Pejabat Pos Lama, as a gazetted heritage site and gives the gazette date as 19 May 1999 (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026). A 2018 Malay Mail report gives an earlier date, saying it was gazetted as a historical building in July 1988 (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026).

After restoration work, the Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation (now the Sabah Tourism Board) moved into the building in 1991 (Free Malaysia Today, checked 7 October 2026). The decision to house the tourism authority in this colonial-era building was fitting — it meant that visitors to Sabah would encounter the state's history the moment they sought information about visiting it.

What are the other surviving pre-WWII buildings in KK?

Kota Kinabalu had many buildings before 1944, but almost all were destroyed during WWII bombing. Three structures were not bombed: the Atkinson Clock Tower, this building and the Land and Survey building (Malay Mail, checked 7 October 2026).

The Atkinson Clock Tower, a timber tower completed on 20 April 1905 on Signal Hill, is the oldest pre-war building standing in Kota Kinabalu and has been managed by the Sabah Museum since 1979 (Daily Express, checked 7 October 2026).

The Land and Survey building, from 1918-20s, survives today as the ruin known as the House of Pillars (Daily Express, checked 7 October 2026).

These few survivors are among the only physical links to pre-war Jesselton.

What does the Tourism Board do today?

The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) is the state government agency responsible for promoting tourism in Sabah. Its headquarters is in this building on Gaya Street.

The Tourism Board also works to promote Sabah internationally through marketing campaigns, tourism industry training, and partnerships with hotels, tour operators, and international tourism bodies. The STB is responsible for developing Sabah tourism policy and coordinating with state government agencies to maintain and improve tourist facilities.

For trip planning, the Sabah Tourism Board website is a useful starting point.

What is the Jalan Gaya heritage area?

Jalan Gaya is the historic heart of Kota Kinabalu. During the colonial period, Jalan Gaya was the main street where traders, merchants, and colonial administrators conducted business. The street was lined with shophouses, trading companies, and government buildings that reflected the economic life of Jesselton.

After WWII destruction and rebuilding, Jalan Gaya gradually became less central to the city as development spread outward. However, in recent years, the street has been revitalized as a heritage and cultural zone. The Gaya Street Sunday Market, held on Sunday mornings, has become a major attraction where locals and tourists browse handicrafts, local food, antiques, and souvenirs.

The Sabah Tourism Board Building anchors one end of the Jalan Gaya heritage area. Nearby are colonial-era shophouses that have been restored and now serve as restaurants, galleries, and cultural spaces. The Atkinson Clock Tower stands close by, and Padang Merdeka (Independence Square) is just a short walk away.

A walking tour of the Jalan Gaya area is an excellent way to experience Kota Kinabalu heritage. The route can include the Tourism Board Building, the Sunday Market, the Atkinson Clock Tower, Padang Merdeka and older shophouses.

How can you visit and what should you know?

Location: The Sabah Tourism Board is at 51 Gaya Street in central Kota Kinabalu, near Padang Merdeka. If arriving by taxi, ask for the Tourism Board on Gaya Street.

Hours: We could not verify current opening hours. Check with the Sabah Tourism Board before you go.

Entry: The exterior can be viewed from the street at any time. There is no ticket for this government office.

Combination visit: Pair the building with the Atkinson Clock Tower on Signal Hill and Padang Merdeka, then return to Gaya Street for a meal.

Frequently asked questions