Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu

History

The street was known as Bond Street during the British colonial era, and was established in 1902, after the construction of shop houses there was completed. The street started as a railway track for the transportation of rubber all the way from Sapong and Melalap rubber estates in Tenom which ended at the wharf. The Jesselton Harbour was the main gateway from North Borneo during when there is still no passenger planes. The market is once considered as the "heart" of Jesselton as major business activities was done there.

Since then, farmers and ordinary folks from the interior and fishermen from the coastal areas would make their trip to sell agricultural produce and other crops in the market, this include the Chinese immigrants as well Filipino and Indonesian traders. Aside from agricultural products, local food, souvenirs, arts and craft, footwear, antiques and even pets are sold in the market.

Along the market street, it is also the place where the old Jesselton Post Office (now the main office of Sabah Tourism Corporation (STC)) are located together with the Jesselton Hotel.