The then capital Jesselton (later renamed to Kota Kinabalu in 1967) was severely devastated during the Second World War. After the war ended, the British government returned. To return the past glory of the city, the then Governor awarded each shop-lot to owner whom could afford to rebuild his own shop.
According to my late grandparent, the Japanese introduced own currency notes during its occupation. Many residents burnt the Colonial notes as a result. When the war ends, most was left penniless with invaluable Japanese notes. Those whom hid their British Colonial notes and Gold bars under banana trees in the farm survived comfortably.
The first two rows of shop-houses built right after the war now lined Gaya Street.