The Sandakan Memorial Park commemorates a tragedy and an atrocity. It is located beside the site of the original Sandakan POW camp. Visitors are guided by a number of interpretative and memorial locations situated on the pathway around the Park.
‘Memorial Cairns’ – there are three memorial cairns within the Park. Two are located near the entrance and the third just beyond the generator on the way to the Commemorative Pavilion.
Generator and boiler – both these pieces of machinery are original relics of the Sandakan POW camp. The boiler provided steam to run the generator that produced electricity for the camp. The POW cut the wood to fire the boiler.
Commemorative Pavilion – text panels, maps and photographs in the Pavilion tell the story of the Sandakan POW camp and the ‘death marches’ to Ranau.
Sandakan Memorial – this polished, granite memorial is located within the original boundary of the POW camp. Near the memorial stood the famous ‘big tree’ and the camp guardhouse. Also beside the big tree was the ‘cage’ in which many prisoners suffered brutal punishments.
