Tawau Bell Tower, Bell tower in Tawau, Malaysia

The Tawau Bell Tower, also called the Belfry, is the oldest standing structure in Tawau, built in 1921 by the Japanese community of North Borneo with prison labour and funds from Japanese businessmen. The bronze bell it once held went missing during World War II. A bench mark in the tower gives the town's elevation above sea level and marks the starting point for distances to Dunlop Street, Kuhara Road, Sin On Road, Apas Road, Tg Batu Road, North Road and Merotai Road, with the Celebes Sea to the south.

The Tawau Bell Tower was built in 1921 by Tawau's Japanese community, funded by Japanese businessmen and using prison labour, to mark the armistice ending World War I and the Anglo-Japanese alliance. Its bronze bell vanished during World War II; a local legend says residents hid it in a church a kilometre away. By 2006 the abandoned tower was near collapse and was restored with funds from the Rotary Club of Tawau.

The tower's benchmark marks the town's elevation above sea level and the starting point for distances to every place. From it, east leads to Dunlop Street, Kuhara Road, Sin On Road and Apas Road; south faces the Celebes Sea; west to Tg Batu Road; north to North Road and Merotai Road.

The site is accessible near Jalan Bomba with directional markers making it straightforward to locate on foot. It works well to visit in early morning or late afternoon when the area is quieter and the light is softer.

The tower's benchmark marks Tawau's elevation above sea level and the starting point for distances to every place: east to Dunlop Street, Kuhara Road, Sin On Road and Apas Road, south to the Celebes Sea, west to Tg Batu Road, north to North Road and Merotai Road.