Gedung Kuning means “Yellow Mansion” in Malay. Made of mainly wood and brick, the façade of the building suggests European influence but its form and internal layout within the building reflects the style of a traditional Malay house.
The house served as a residence for much of its history. Tunku Mahmud, a grandson of Sultan Hussein, was known to have stayed in the house. Haji Yusoff, a merchant of Javanese descent, first purchased the mansion in 1912. He sold it years later, but would subsequently buy it again.
The mansion remained in the possession of Haji Yusoff and later his descendants till 1999, when the government acquired it for redevelopment. The renovated and restored building was opened to the public in 2003, housing a restaurant.