The cemetery lies in a grove of frangipani trees[1] along Northam Road (now Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah) near the historic core of George Town, only metres away from the beachfront and a short walk from the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.

Also buried in the cemetery are many of the early Governors of Penang, the brother of Stamford Raffles, Quintin Dick Thomas, and the husband of Anna Leonowens, inspiration for The King & I.

A large number of the graves is of people who died before reaching 50 years of age; many of the men and women buried are in their twenties and thirties.

No further restoration works took place at the cemetery until 1993–1994, when the Penang Heritage Trust repaired and cleaned the boundary walls and tombstones with donations from French plantation company SOCFIN.

Faded inscriptions were also re-inked, and a large signboard in Malay and English with a site plan of important tombs was put up.

[5] In 2012, the cemetery underwent a major conservation effort, a joint project by the MPPP, the Penang Heritage Trust, and GTWHI, involving a complete overhaul of the site.

The second phase entailed repairs to the tomb structures, and the removal of 80 trees encroaching on the old graves, and installing such amenities as a walkway, seats and rest areas for visitors.