In 1877, the Queensland Government approved the construction of three railways to connect mining towns to their principal ports: Townsville to Charters Towers; Bundaberg to Mount Perry; and Maryborough to Gympie.

The station buildings at Gympie and Maryborough were positioned at the terminus of the track line, marking the railway's dead end status.

Agriculture and dairying had begun to emerge as key industries within the Gympie district and in 1915 the Mary Valley branch railway was opened.

In 1963 a new ticket and parcel office was built within the former parking area adjoining the subway entrance (where the Gympie Family History Society is now located).

For over a century the station complex was intrinsically linked to the economy of Gympie and surrounding areas and played an important role in Queensland's rail network however by the end of the 1980s it had become mostly redundant.

[7] In June 2016, the Gympie Regional Council allocated $250,000 for operational start-up costs and $3.8 million for capital funds to restart the Rattler.