Sandakan Memorial Park — WWII POW Camp Memorial in Sabah
What is Sandakan Memorial Park?
Sandakan Memorial Park stands on the site of the Second World War prisoner of war camp outside Sandakan. It commemorates the deaths of about 2,400 Australian and British prisoners of war held by the Japanese, who died between January and August 1945. The park is about 11 km outside Sandakan, in what is now the suburb of Taman Rimba, and is clearly signposted (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). The camp was near Mile 8 (Sabah Tourism Board, Sandakan Day, checked 7 October 2026).
The interpretive pavilion was originally built in 1999. It was demolished in 2023 because of its age and rebuilt in 2024 with termite-resistant, weather-proof materials, after the Australian government announced A$5.1 million for the upgrade in its 2022–23 budget (Bernama, checked 7 October 2026).
Sabah Tourism lists Majlis Perbandaran Sandakan (Sandakan Municipal Council) as the contact for the park (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). Check opening hours and any entry charge with the council before visiting.
What happened at the Sandakan POW camp?
During 1942 and 1943, the Japanese transferred Allied prisoners of war from Singapore to Sandakan to build a military airstrip. Almost 2,500 Australian and British prisoners were held there (Sabah Tourism Board, Sandakan Day, checked 7 October 2026). Australia's Department of Veterans' Affairs gives the totals as 1,793 Australians and 641 British (DVA audio guide, checked 7 October 2026).
Between January and June 1945, more than 1,000 malnourished prisoners were force-marched to Ranau, about 250 to 260 km away (the Sabah Tourism Board gives 260 km; the Department of Veterans' Affairs gives 250 km, checked 7 October 2026). About half died on the way, and those who reached Ranau died there of starvation and illness. About 1,400 prisoners too weak or ill to be moved died at the Sandakan camp. The last man alive at the camp was beheaded on the morning of 15 August 1945, five hours before Japan surrendered (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
Only six Australians, all escapees cared for by local villagers, survived. No British prisoner survived. Read the full story on our Sandakan Death Marches page.
What can you see at the memorial park today?
Sabah Tourism and the Australian Department of Veterans' Affairs describe these features:
- Wartime machinery: the rusting remains of an excavator, a generator and a boiler still lie in their original positions near the steps up to the commemorative pavilion (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
- Interpretive pavilion: rebuilt in 2024 with an interactive gallery telling the stories of those who survived and those who died (Bernama, checked 7 October 2026).
- Memorial obelisk: near the site known as the "Big Tree" (DVA audio guide, checked 7 October 2026).
- Landscaped grounds: the park is well maintained and landscaped, with paths for quiet walks (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
The Department of Veterans' Affairs publishes a full audio guide with transcript that you can use on your phone as you walk around.
When are the annual memorial ceremonies?
Two commemorations are held at the park every year (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026):
| Date | Ceremony Name | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 25 April | Anzac Day | Australia and New Zealand's national day of remembrance for those who served and died in war. |
| 15 August | Sandakan Day | Remembers the Australian and British prisoners of war and the Sabahans who risked their lives to help them (Sabah Tourism Board, Sandakan Day, checked 7 October 2026). |
If you plan to attend, expect the park to be busier than usual. Check service times with the organisers or Sabah Tourism closer to the date.
How do I get to Sandakan Memorial Park?
From Sandakan town: the park is about 11 km outside Sandakan and is clearly signposted (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026).
By taxi or Grab: the most convenient option for most visitors. Agree the fare or check the app price before you set off, and consider asking the driver to wait or arranging your return trip.
By rental car: follow the signs; ask at the park about parking.
Combination visits: many visitors pair the park with the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre, which is also outside Sandakan town.
Best time to visit: mornings are usually cooler and quieter.
What other WWII sites are near Sandakan?
Agnes Keith House (Sandakan town): the home of Harry Keith, a Conservator of Forests, and his wife, the American author Agnes Newton Keith, whose 1939 book Land Below the Wind made Sabah famous. The present house was rebuilt in 1946–47, after the war, and is now a Sabah Museum site with a gallery that includes war artefacts (Sabah Museum, checked 7 October 2026).
Kundasang War Memorial (near Ranau): memorial gardens opened in 1962 to commemorate the Australian and British prisoners who died at Sandakan and on the death marches to Ranau, and the people of North Borneo who risked their lives to help them (Sabah Tourism Board, checked 7 October 2026). It is a long drive from Sandakan, so most people visit it on a separate day.
Sandakan Heritage Trail: a walking route through the town's historic sites, listed by Sabah Tourism among Sandakan's attractions.
Together, Sandakan Memorial Park, where the marches began, and Kundasang, near Ranau where they ended, tell much of the story of this chapter in Sabah's wartime history.