It is located on the Fremantle line, 12.4 kilometres from Perth station serving the suburbs of Cottesloe and Peppermint Grove.

Passengers could stop the train with a provided red flag in daylight or a candle in a jar at night.

[2] The station closed on 1 September 1979 along with the rest of the Fremantle line, re-opening on 29 July 1983 when services were restored.

Cottesloe was previously the junction for a now lifted parallel freight line that ran to the Leighton Marshalling Yard.

The goods line originally headed north to service the local Eureka flour mill.