It was originally known as the Atkinson Memorial Clock Tower and sits in solitary on the bluff along Signal Hill Road overlooking this seaside city and capital of Sabah, Malaysia.

[2] The clock tower was built in the memory of Francis George Atkinson, Jesselton's first district officer who died of Malaria or ‘Borneo Fever’ at the age of 28 in December 1902.

Its construction was financed by Atkinson's friends and most probably built with additional funds channelled from shipwright of visiting naval vessels (the internal carpentry of the clock tower has all the hallmarks of a ship's carpenter).

[3]: p.31 Measuring 50 feet (15.24 metres) high x 6’3” x 6’3” at its base the clock tower stood from its lookout point on the hill facing towards the township of Jesselton.

It was repaired by Yick Ming Watch Dealers of Kota Kinabalu who have continued to be the maintenance contractors until today, a practice passed down from father to son.

Defective structural members caused by the tropical weather were substituted with other hardwoods, while the roof timbers were stripped and replaced.

The dials of the clock were changed and the face replaced with translucent Perspex, with black figures on white background for internal lighting.

[4][11] However the plan was returned in mid-2017 when the Sabah state government gave permission to the developer with a proposal to relocate the clock tower to a new site.