Beaufort, Sabah
Encyclopedia
Beaufort which was named after former British Governor L.P. Beaufort is a town and a district located in Interior Division
of Sabah
in east Malaysia on the island of Borneo
. Its population was estimated to be around 61,698 in 2000. It is a quiet provincial town about 90 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu
, with shophouses built high above the roads to avoid the periodic floods of the Padas River (Sungai Padas). The population of Beaufort is composed mainly of Malays, Kadazans and Chinese (mainly Hakka
s). Like Papar, Malaysia, Beaufort was one of the major initial Hakka population centres in Sabah and boasts a large Hakka minority to this day.
Originally set up to help economic development of the interior of Sabah, Beaufort's early prosperity was closely linked to rubber cultivation. During World War II, it was the site of one of the most important skirmishes of the war between the Japanese and Australians. Its current prosperity depends on the booming palm oil industry.
Beaufort is a stop of the Sabah State Railway
(Jabatan Keretapi Negeri Sabah) line from Tanjung Aru to Tenom.
Medical services are provided by the 140 bedded government hospital which has primary care and basic secondary care services. There are three private practitioners within the town area.
Beaufort is usually visited by tourists for white-water rafting through the nearby Padas Gorge on the Padas River which is rated as a Grade 2 to 4 river.
The open-air market, locally known as tamu is held weekly on every Friday evening until Saturday afternoon. Local produce such as fresh fruits, vegetable, fresh meat and live poultry are sold. The days of this weekly community occasion differ from district to district. Beaufort is also known in Sabah for its Chinese dish called Beaufort Mee, a noodle dish served either dry or with soup. It is also famous for its Beaufort oranges, which are featured as 3 large sculptures in the centre of the town.
Interior Division
Interior Division is an administrative division of Sabah, east Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It occupies the southwest portion of Sabah, bordering on Sarawak...
of Sabah
Sabah
Sabah is one of 13 member states of Malaysia. It is located on the northern portion of the island of Borneo. It is the second largest state in the country after Sarawak, which it borders on its southwest. It also shares a border with the province of East Kalimantan of Indonesia in the south...
in east Malaysia on the island of Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
. Its population was estimated to be around 61,698 in 2000. It is a quiet provincial town about 90 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
, with shophouses built high above the roads to avoid the periodic floods of the Padas River (Sungai Padas). The population of Beaufort is composed mainly of Malays, Kadazans and Chinese (mainly Hakka
Hakka people
The Hakka , sometimes Hakka Han, are Han Chinese who speak the Hakka language and have links to the provincial areas of Guangdong, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hunan and Fujian in China....
s). Like Papar, Malaysia, Beaufort was one of the major initial Hakka population centres in Sabah and boasts a large Hakka minority to this day.
Originally set up to help economic development of the interior of Sabah, Beaufort's early prosperity was closely linked to rubber cultivation. During World War II, it was the site of one of the most important skirmishes of the war between the Japanese and Australians. Its current prosperity depends on the booming palm oil industry.
Beaufort is a stop of the Sabah State Railway
Sabah State Railway
Sabah State Railway is a railway system and operator in the state of Sabah in Malaysia. It is the currently the only rail transport system operating on the island of Borneo. The railway consists of a single 134 km line from Tanjung Aru, near Kota Kinabalu, to the town of Tenom, in the...
(Jabatan Keretapi Negeri Sabah) line from Tanjung Aru to Tenom.
Medical services are provided by the 140 bedded government hospital which has primary care and basic secondary care services. There are three private practitioners within the town area.
Beaufort is usually visited by tourists for white-water rafting through the nearby Padas Gorge on the Padas River which is rated as a Grade 2 to 4 river.
The open-air market, locally known as tamu is held weekly on every Friday evening until Saturday afternoon. Local produce such as fresh fruits, vegetable, fresh meat and live poultry are sold. The days of this weekly community occasion differ from district to district. Beaufort is also known in Sabah for its Chinese dish called Beaufort Mee, a noodle dish served either dry or with soup. It is also famous for its Beaufort oranges, which are featured as 3 large sculptures in the centre of the town.