The Kinabalu Park, Malaysia’s first World Heritage Site and the Kundasang War Memorial were established as tribute to the memory of the 2,428 Australians and British POWs who died in Sandakan, Ranau or on the Death Marches.

Major G.S ‘Toby’ Carter, a New Zealander who served in the Royal Australian Engineers and organised native resistance in the Kelabit Highlands of Sarawak during the War initiated the establishment of the Memorial and the Park.

Designed by resident architect, J.C. Robinson the Memorial stands on a hill, like a fort. Within, there are four beautiful Gardens specially built to represent the homelands of those who died in the Death Marches and the locals who risked their lives to help the POWs.

• The Australian Garden is resplendent in its simplicity. A green lawn and at its centre a map of Australia, made of smooth white pebbles of Kundasang. At its far end stands the Memorial plaque.

• The English Garden – sunny and bright. Roses are growing everywhere.

• The Borneo Garden showcases a treasure of Sabah’s endemic Borneo orchids. A special honour is given to the plant that served as staple during the War – the tapioca.

• The Contemplation Garden and Pool. It is here that many services and prayers were held remember the hundreds who never returned to home. Here stands a plaque with the inscription of the words of a song by a Death March survivor:

I’m dreaming of Australia,
The land we left behind.
Dreaming of the loved ones
We could always bear in mind
Although its only fancy
Our hearts within us year.
But we’ll make up for lost moments
When to Australia we return.

There ’s be sailing on the harbour,
The Showboat our first choice.
Or maybe we’d be dancing
Listening to our sweetheart’s voice.
Although it’s only fancy
Our hearts within us yearn.
Gee we’ll make up for lost moments
When to Aussie we return.

- Nelson Short