Labuan Museum (Muzium Labuan)

Housed in a pre-war colonial building, Labuan Museum provides a detailed insight into the culture and history of the island.

Muzium Labuan’s ground floor features exhibits that take visitors on an interesting journey from the prehistoric era, to the Brunei Sultanate, British colonial days, declaration of Independence and establishment of Labuan as a federal territory.

The top floor showcases the cultures and traditions of the island’s main communities, namely the Brunei-Malays, Kadazan-Dusuns, Indians, Sikhs, Kadayans and Chinese.

History Square

Just across from Labuan Museum is History Square, where four Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma) trees stand on each of the square’s corners. The trees were planted by the Malay, Chinese, Indian and European communities in 1953 to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

There are also several plaques in History Square commemorating important events throughout Labuan’s history, such as the:

• 1846 handover of the island from the Brunei Sultanate to the British;
• change of name for Labuan to Maida Island during the Japanese rule in 1942;
• memorial for General Toshinari Maeda, after whom the island’s name change was initiated, who perished in an air crash on the way to Labuan in 1943; and
• landing of the Australian 9th Division in Labuan in June 1945, marking the beginning of the liberation of Borneo.

Gallery