Atkinson Clock Tower to be repaired, restored.

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday, 16th May 2012 Kota Kinabalu - The Sabah State Museum has begun a major renovation and repair work of the Atkinson Clock Tower respondingto a public request to fix the clock tower’s faulty light and time keeping accuracy.

Director of Sabah State Museum Joanna Kitingan commented in social network Facebook, “We all agreed that it's time to give the ACT a new face lift, repairs and new coat of paint and change some of the gears that's slowing down the clock timing”.

Datuk Haji Masidi Manjun, Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment along with the Director of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) also echoed the need for this old clock tower to be maintained and repaired.

Heritage advocate Richard Nelson Sokial welcomed the museum’s decision to initiate the clock tower’s repairs and said “It's astonishing how very few people know that the Atkinson Clock Tower still works even after 107 years. It's a living heritage of Kota Kinabalu, the oldest city landmark since 1905. It deserves respect and protection.”

He also hoped that the repair works would keep with the current façade of the clock tower. The Atkinson Clock Tower has been renovated several times over the last 107 years to improve its appearance and upkeep.

The preliminary repair works on the illumination of the clock’s double faces has been completed, while subsequent repairs on the structure wall and the clock mechanism will be progressing within the upcoming few weeks.

Appointed contractors stated that they in the process of evaluating the condition of the clock tower’s timber structure to decide if it needs an overhaul. The clock mechanism is currently supervised by Mr. Tommy from Yick Ming Watch Dealer – a task taken over from his father since 1946, which involves winding up the clock’s antiquated cogs and dials.

The Atkinson Clock Tower remains as the oldest and most popular landmark of Kota Kinabalu with a history that goes back to the establishment of early Kota Kinabalu (then known as Jesselton) in 1899. Surviving the allied bombing of Jesselton during WWII, the clock tower was built as remembrance for the late Francis George Atkinson, Jesselton’s first district officer who died of Malaria or ‘Borneo Fever’ at the age of 28 on December 1902.

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Atkinson Clock Tower Exhibition pulls crowds, extended 13th – 14th February 2012

PRESS RELEASE

The Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition at Hotel Sixty3, Gaya Street in conjunction with the recent ‘Bonding With Gaya Street’ event held on 10th-12th February 2012 has proven to be such a hit among locals and tourists that the exhibition has been extended until 14th February 2012 to give visitors a better chance to come to the exhibition. The exhibition venue is located at the hotel’s 1st floor Atrium, situated just opposite of the Sabah Tourism Board building.



Among the highlights of the exhibition is a 48-foot long graphic mural of the Atkinson Clock Tower, sponsored by Hotel Sixty3 as well as numerous images and information of Kota Kinabalu’s oldest and most popular city landmark.

According to Richard Nelson Sokial, a local heritage advocator involved with the exhibition, “the public response to the Atkinson Clock Tower exhibition has been very, very good…and by popular demand, the hotel’s management has kindly extended their goodwill and hospitality to host the exhibition for another two more days”.



Curious members of the public have come steadily since Saturday to view the exhibition, which is one of the activities organized by the North Borneo History Enthusiasts (NBHE) for the recent ‘Bonding With Gaya Street’ event. The exhibition was put together by members of the Heritage Sabah group with the help of NBHE volunteers and the cooperation of Sabah Museum, Sabah State Archives, Jabatan Penerangan Sabah, town planning studies by AIA Consortium as well as photo contributions from private individuals.



Besides displaying of rare photos showcasing the importance of the Atkinson Clock Tower as a city marker for more than 100 years, the exhibit features a 100-year old original railway sleeper used by the North Borneo Railways (now known as Sabah Railways), courtesy of Cap Kuda Coffee Company.

A visual multimedia display by various supporters of Heritage Sabah group’s Save Our Heritage Atkinson Clock Tower campaign is also on display which shows the younger generations appreciation of the clock tower as a legacy for their own generation in Sabah.



“Many members of the public are not even aware that the clock tower built in 1905, still works in 2012 – and still emits chimes from its bell tower – despite its melodious sound being drowned by the busy traffic on Jalan Balai Polis”, Sokial said.

He added that, “members of the public should definitely come to see this exhibit, as a way of learning more about the heritage value of the Atkinson Clock Tower and why it is so important to preserve it in a pristine site. It is a chance to learn about KK city’s history and how this clock tower continues to contribute to the enrichment of Kota Kinabalu’s local community in these modern times”.



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