It occupies a site of 108 hectares in Glen Eden, Auckland, and also contains a crematorium in the south-west corner of the cemetery.

[6] In 1929, a major fire broke out at the cemetery, burning 100 acres of native bush that had been planted in the 19th century.

[4] In February 1939, the cemetery was involved in the first case of graverobbing in New Zealand, when two Australian visitors to Auckland, G R Mackey and J A Talbot, dug up the body of a recently buried soldier to use in an insurance scam, burning the body inside a bach at Piha.

[8] Two extensive areas of the cemetery were allocated for the burial of service personnel of the World Wars and post-war veterans.

[9] The commission also commemorates 44 World War II service personnel who were cremated at Waikumete Crematorium.