The Sabah Museum was established in 1965 in a shophouse in Gaya Street, Kota Kinabalu, largely due to the efforts of the Sabah Society. The George Cathcart Woolley Collection of photographs, diaries and other artefacts, bequeathed to the State Government of Sabah, formed the nucleus of the Museum.[1][2][3] The first Curator of the Museum was E.J. Berwick. In 1981, it came under the Ministry of Community Services and then, in 1982, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.