Comments on: Saving heritage or getting rid of the colonial past?

By: Rupert Fane

Rupert Fane — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 07:52:52 +0000

Hi Glenda. I came across this chain whilst looking for details of Wallace Brothers the other day. My parents lived in that house I think in the early 60’s. They were posted there to run the timber camp owned by NBT. I have many photographs from those days and even the visitors book from the house (if it is the same one). My mother who died last year, always remembered her time there fondly, including a school she worked, the cook mentioned above and a snake that ate rats in the kitchen (!)

You and others on this chain are correct I think. Wallace Bay was named after Wallace Brothers. My father was called Vere Fane and he and my mother lived there after they were married in 1963. Wallace brothers came to a sad end in the 70’s, destroying a business that dated back to the 1790s

I wasn’t aware of the Anak Anak Wallace Bay Facebook page. It is extraordinary to think that so many years later, so may people still remember those times. I was looking on line as yesterday I met someone who asked me about my parents and Wallace Bay (name Turnbull)

Wishing you all well from London

Rupert

By: James Cassels

James Cassels — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:17:24 +0000

Glenda, my late parents (Patrick and Jane Cassels) were based there in early 70’s, having moved over from Kalabakan.

It is, in fact my earliest memory, living in the house next door, Forest Lodge, until we moved over to Tawau.

As a family, we would visit Palau Sebatik, and stay at the guest house depicted.

I remember an older Indian chef working there for years, and the wonderful curries he produced.

James Cassels

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 06:15:54 +0000

In reply to Musryizz. Glad it was of help!

By: Musryizz

Musryizz — Mon, 10 May 2021 13:57:49 +0000

I came here to search why my village’s name is so rare bcs my village is full with malay people and my village is located on a remote island and is almost unknown but its name is in english LOL, and as a people of Wallace bay, I am very honored after reading your blog!!!! Thank youuuu!!!

By: Man Ctn

Man Ctn — Sun, 22 Feb 2015 22:34:10 +0000

In the Pick to attend to encounter Children Wallace Bay on 5/6/7 June 2015 Please go to Anak-Anak Wallace Bay Face Book.
All Children of Wallace Bay will be present at the meeting in memory of the glory era of NBT (North Borneo Timber) The 60s to 80s. Heritage house is still intact and is now in use as a mini museum.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 01:25:58 +0000

Yes it was definitely built by the wallace brothers who ran the timber business. If you Google you can find an excerpt from the British archives.wallace line would have been named after sir alfred Wallace who was not related to the Wallace brothers of NBT.angeline

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:24:30 +0000

After speaking with the locals, I don't think there can be any doubt that the Bay and the house were named after Wallace Bros, connected to the North Borneo Timber Berhad. Is it possible that one of these brothers was also a journalist?

This house was definitely the biggest house in the area, on the prime piece of real estate, and it did have a swimming pool, now just a dip in the ground. I still don't know if any decision was made to preserve the house.

Unfortunately, shortly after we were there, the politician who was passionately interested in Sebatik was defeated in an election…

By: pappashell

pappashell — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:38:33 +0000

Who was this Wallace journalist? Who did he write for? I still believe that Wallace Bay was named after the British company called Wallace Brothers who were the principle shareholders in North Borneo Timbers which started to develop the Sebatik facility in the early 1950s. I lived there between 1954 and 56 but am not sure if this was our house – there were about 5 houses for the expatriate staff – plus another 5 or 6 in Kalabakan. There might be some confusion with the Wallace Line which dates from 1859 and I do not think that Alfred Wallace went to Sebatik. On another note, is anyone aware of the extraordinary discovery of Sung dynasty china dug up just above the high tide level in the 1950s. I think that this is now in the KK museum.

By: Glenda Larke

Glenda Larke — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 00:17:11 +0000

Thanks for the updates…

I wonder what has happened to the house now? It would be great to know if anything was done to save the place after our visit.

By: Amiruddin Laijo

Amiruddin Laijo — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 22:10:15 +0000

I was born in Kg. Wallace Bay in 1963, in year 1982 im joint The North Borneo Timbers Bhd as a Sales &Shipping Clerk until NBT closed down in year 1985 but I was transfered to Sabah Softwoods Bhd until now and my position as a Sr. Executive Marketing