Kota Kinabalu: The Australian High Commission in Malaysia unveiled a new public mural in central Kota Kinabalu, celebrating decades of friendship, shared history and people-to-people ties between Australia and Sabah.
The “Remembering Australia Place” mural, located on Wisma Intiutama at the site informally known as “Australia Place”, was launched by Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia, Danielle Heinecke, together with Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah, community leaders and alumni of Australian universities.
Designed and painted by local community arts organisation Pillars of Sabah, the mural brings together stories of friendship, resilience, cooperation and people-to-people connections between Australia and Malaysia, while highlighting the historical contribution of Australians to the rebuilding of Jesselton following the Second World War.
Heinecke said the mural told the story of Australians and Sabahans coming together over many decades as friends and partners, with the relationship extending beyond official cooperation to individual friendships, cultural exchanges and community partnerships.
“This artwork captures the stories of people whose lives have connected our two countries and serves as a lasting reminder of the strong bonds that continue to shape our partnership today,” she said.
She added that the artwork was particularly significant because Lorong Dewan was believed to have been where Australian personnel stayed while working alongside Sabahans during post-war reconstruction, adding that the history had inspired Pillars of Sabah co-founder Jared Abdul Rahman to develop the mural concept.
The project also involved teachers and students from SMK Sanzac, a school founded by Australian and New Zealand service personnel in the 1960s, providing a link between younger generations and the longstanding Australia-Sabah relationship.
Completed in two weeks, the mural carries a personal connection to the two countries through Jared, whose Sabahan father studied civil engineering in Tasmania under the Colombo Plan before meeting his Tasmanian mother and returning to Malaysia.
His father later served as a consultant engineer involved in Wisma Intiutama where the mural is displayed, creating a direct connection between the Australia-linked educational exchange of the past, the building itself and the contemporary artwork.
“I am deeply honoured to have the support of the Australian High Commission in realising an artwork that celebrated both sides of my cultural heritage,” he said, adding that the project had brought different generations of the Kota Kinabalu community, particularly teachers and students from SMK Sanzac, together to reflect on Sabah’s partnership with Australia.
Heinecke said the mural’s unveiling was also timely as it coincided with Sandakan Day on Aug 15, which provides an opportunity to remember the shared wartime history between Australia and Sabah, including the suffering and loss of the 2,434 prisoners of war who died during the Sandakan Death Marches.
She said Australia’s relationship with Sabah had developed from post-war reconstruction into contemporary cooperation, strengthened by remembrance, reconciliation and a shared commitment to honouring those who sacrificed during the war.
The High Commissioner also highlighted current areas of Australia-Sabah cooperation, including Australian Army engineers’ refurbishment work at SK Babagon Toki near Kota Kinabalu and the scheduled visit of the Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Choules, which will contribute to the refurbishment project.
Beyond defence ties, she highlighted education, tourism, trade, investment and cultural exchanges as important pillars of the wider Australia-Malaysia relationship, particularly the contribution of Malaysians who studied in Australia and returned with stronger understanding and connections between the two countries.
Heinecke also expressed hope that the mural would become a permanent feature on the itineraries of the more than 20,000 Australians who visit Sabah each year, while calling for stronger air connectivity between Sabah and Australia, including efforts to restore direct flights such as the Melbourne-Kota Kinabalu route.
She said Australia was also pleased to support Malaysia’s arts sector, noting that public art could help communities preserve and communicate their stories, including by reading its accompanying plaque and scanning the QR code available on site.
“We hope the mural would encourage visitors and passers-by to stop and learn about the historical links between Australia and Kota Kinabalu,” she said.
Australia and Malaysia share longstanding ties spanning defence cooperation, education, trade, investment, tourism, cultural exchange and deep people-to-people links, with the Australian High Commission thanking City Hall, the Sandakan Municipal Council, community partners, artists, veterans’ families and others involved in the mural and related commemorative events.
