Agnes Keith's House in Sandakan https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Agnes_Keith_House#/media/File:Sandakan_Sabah_AgnesKeithHouse-01.jpg CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
Agnes Keith House (GPS: 5.84305, 118.11563) is a heritage building in Sandakan, Sabah, that was once the home of famous American writer Agnes Newton Keith. It is located on the hill with Sandakan Bay in front of it, and the Sulu Sea behind it. Agnes Keith came to live in Sabah with her husband in the 1930's. While she was in Sabah, Keith wrote several novels, the most famous of which was Land Below the Wind, written in 1939.
Agnes Keith's house was destroyed during the Second World War. During that time, Agnes Keith endured imprisonment under the Japanese, while at the same time trying to raise her young son. This is documented in the house.
In 1946, following the war, the government rebuilt it on the same foundation. The Keiths continued to stay in there house, as Mr Keith worked for the government as the conservator of forests. Their son George was born in the house. After the Keiths left Sabah in 1952, the house continued to be known as the Agnes Keith House. It fell into disrepair by the 1990's, but was eventually restored and conserved as a heritage building, providing visitors a glimpse of life during the British administration of North Borneo. There is also an English Tea House within the compound - a departure from Agnes Keith's attempt to make her home more American and less British.
Another view of the exterior of Agnes Keith's House https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Agnes_Keith_House#/media/File:Newlands-the-home-of-Agnes-Newton-Keith-Sabah-Borneo.JPG Warren Apel
The living room at Agnes Keith House https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Agnes_Keith_House#/media/File:Sandakan_Sabah_AgnesKeithHouse-12.jpg CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
The dining room at Agnes Keith House https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Agnes_Keith_House#/media/File:Sandakan_Sabah_AgnesKeithHouse-02.jpg CEphoto, Uwe Aranas
Getting there
Go along Jalan Singapura and then turn right up the hill.
Address
Agnes Keith House
Jalan Istana
Admission: RM15.00, includes entry to other branches of Sabah Museum even in Kota Kinabalu.
Please use the information on this page as guidance only. The author endeavours to update the information on this page from time to time, but regrets any inaccuracies if there be any.
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