Attraction Guide: Agnes Keith House, Sandakan, Malaysia

Agnes Keith House Guide

Echoes of the Past: Step Back in Time at the Agnes Keith House Guide

The Agnes Keith House, also known as "Newlands," is a beautifully restored colonial-era house that once belonged to Agnes Newton Keith, an American author best known for her autobiographical books about life in British North Borneo (now Sabah). The house offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of colonial expatriates in the early 20th century and provides a valuable historical perspective on Sandakan's past. It's a must-visit for history buffs and those interested in colonial architecture and culture. Agnes Newton Keith and her husband, Harry Keith, a British forestry officer, lived in Sandakan during the 1930s and 1940s. Her books, including "Land Below the Wind," "Three Came Home," and "White Man Returns," vividly depict their experiences in Borneo, including their internment in Japanese prisoner-of-war camps during World War II. The original house was destroyed during the war, but it was meticulously reconstructed in 1946 based on Agnes Keith's descriptions and photographs. Today, the Agnes Keith House serves as a museum, showcasing exhibits about Agnes Keith's life and writings, as well as the history of Sandakan during the colonial period. Visitors can explore the various rooms of the house, furnished with period furniture and artifacts, to get a sense of what life was like for the Keith family and other expatriates. The house also features a tea room where visitors can enjoy refreshments. While there are no specific culinary traditions directly linked to the house, it provides context to the colonial era, during which certain culinary influences were introduced to the region.