Atkinson Clock Tower is the oldest man-made structure in Kota Kinabalu City (KK), capital of Sabah, Malaysia. On 20 April 1905, everyone in Jesselton town (now KK) started to hear this new ivory-color tower chimed every hour. After 115 years, it would have rang over 1 millions times if it never stops. Nowadays Atkinson Clock Tower is the most popular landmark of KK and highly valued for its good representation of British Colonial architecture design.

Kota Kinabalu is blessed to have Atkinson Clock Tower. However, it exists due to a sad incident. It was built to commemorate a British, Francis George Atkinson, the first District Officer of Jesselton township, who passed away on this day (6 December) in 1902 because of malaria. Under the support of British government, his friends, colleagues, and mother (Mary Edith Atkinson) raised fund to ?erect a handsome Clock Tower as a local Memorial?.

Why choose clock tower as a memorial? Probably it is meant to tell everyone to move on, and the ticking will go on like the heart beat of Atkinson. Symbolically this district officer hasn?t retired and still serving us until today. He has been with us to witness Jesselton bombarded in World War 2, announcement of Malaysia formation in 1963, and the growth of KK from a small village to a bustling city. This 48-foot clock tower was also a beacon to guide the ships to KK harbour. Now Atkinson becomes a ?tourism ambassador?, as his clock tower is a main attraction of KK city tour.