HISTORY AGNES KEITH HOUSE
If you should ever stroll along the stretch of Jalan Istana in Sandakan,
the much-talked about Agnes Keith House is hard to miss. With its
sprawling green lawns and colonial-style wooden walls, the residence has
since been restored by the Sabah Museum, in collaboration with the
Federal Department of Museums and Antiquities.
This British colonial government quarters, called Newlands, was once
occupied by famous American writer, Agnes Newton Keith, who penned Land
Below The Wind in 1939. Two books followed her first success, namely
Three Came Home (1946) and White Man Returns (1951). With the exception
of the second book, Land Below the Wind and White Man Returns were
written in the house on the hill where she had the best views of
Sandakan Bay at the front and the Sulu Sea at the back.
Newlands was rebuilt some time in 1946/47 and was the first
government permanent timber dwelling to be built after the Second World
War. It was built upon the ruined foundations of the original house that
was destroyed during the war.
The house became home to Agnes and her family, Henry (also referred
to as Harry) George Keith, who was the Conservator of Forests and their
son, George. When the Keiths left Sabah in 1952, the house was occupied
by subsequent Conservators of Forests, forestry officers, volunteers and
other staff. Though the Keiths never retuned to Sabah, the house was
always referred to as Agnes Keith's House by visitors who never stopped
coming to see it.
Today the house has been restored and turned into a heritage house,
providing interesting insights to life during British North Borneo. It
is furnished with a reproduction of colonial furniture and antiques. A
gallery on the first floor tells the story of this remarkable woman, her
books and her family. A Keith time-line starts in 1873 and ends in 2004
tracing the past to the present Keiths.
"The new house is beautiful. Round trippers on world boats would come up to see it, carrying their cameras and calling, Why look!"
Getting There:
The Agnes Keith House is part of the Sandakan Heritage Trail . From Sandakan town, it is a 20-minute walk. You can also take a taxi.
Seven days a week (Monday - Sunday), from 9am to 5pm
Admission fee
MyKad holders: RM2.00
MyKad holders above 55 years: Free
Children below 12 years: Free
Others: RM15.00
Contact
Sabah Museum: +6088-225033/ 253199
Sandakan Heritage Museum: +6089-222679
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