The first section of what later became the Glen Waverley line opened on 3 March 1890, as part of the Outer Circle railway connecting Burnley and Oakleigh stations.

After the Outer Circle line from Oakleigh to Camberwell was closed on 9 December 1895, trains from Melbourne terminated at Darling.

East Malvern station opened on 3 February 1929 as a one-stop extension of the Darling line.

[10] As part of the freeway project, the line was rerouted through an artificial tunnel, and a timber trestle bridge crossing a local creek was replaced.

[12] There have been some minor changes in the 21st century, with the footbridge being rebuilt in 2009 to accommodate the widening of the Monash Freeway, and the provision of a Parkiteer secure bike cage next to the entrance of Platform 1 in the 2010s.

The station building, platforms, and overpass remain largely as when they were rebuilt in 1975, with the main changes being updated signage and more car parking.