With the completion of the Lithgow Zig Zag in 1869, the Western railway's terminus moved from Mount Victoria to Bowenfels, signifying the successful crossing of the Blue Mountains.

Whilst the railway would continue west, Lithgow proved to be an important destination in itself due to coal and iron ore deposits.

[5] The first was a timber booking and parcels office elevated on a steel beam frame with a concrete deck that was located adjacent to Eskbank Street.

[3] It is assumed that the dry stone retaining wall is associated with the adjacent remnant concrete pedestrian ramp and therefore the original construction of the railway station.

[4][3] In 1961, the last traditional Railway Refreshment Room was built and opened in the Sydney end of the building, following the closure of a similar facility at Mount Victoria.

[6] The station exit was originally located on the footbridge at the eastern end of the platform until replaced by the present concourse in August 1991.

The existing landscaping is not considered significant but contributes to the setting and character of the place and continues a tradition of railway gardening on this site for some time.

Modern light fittings, illuminated signage, timber bench seating, small planters, and a central garden bed (which appears to be the former location of the access ramp/stairs from Eskbank Street) comprise the platform furnishings.

The eastern (Up) end of the building has been extended approximately one bay in 1961 (formerly used as Railway Refreshment Room) with a matching gable end detailing featuring large metal box-framed window openings supported on with brick brackets with security mesh and a single door with side windows and fanlight on the east side.

Other features to the original bays of the building include standard iron brackets over decorative corbels supporting the ample platform awnings, fretted timber work to both ends of the awnings, timber-framed double-hung vertically proportioned windows with multi-paned upper sashes, timber panelled doors with multi-paned fanlights, and a brick chimney with corbelled top and modern roof vents to toilets.

The interiors have been refurbished with only plasterboard ceiling panelling, simple moulded cornices and high wall vents appear to remain from the original phase.

[3] External: The former booking office is located on the western side of the Eskbank Street overhead bridge at the Up end of the station.

It is elevated on a steel beam and trestles structure with a concrete deck and adjoins the arched road overbridge on the eastern side.

A timber panelled balustrade with artwork reflecting a coal mining theme completes the remaining portion of the overhead bridge on the north side of the tower.

The original timber-framed double-hung windows with multi-paned upper sashes are located on north, east and west elevations of the booking/parcels office.

The residence is located on the northern side of the railway line with a projecting faceted observatory room over the entrance portico.

The distinctive Victorian features include arched windows with contrasting rendered moulded trims and sills, projecting keystones, rendered contrasting string band at the first-floor slab level, decorative moulded brackets supporting the wide eaves, a rendered chimney with corbelled top, timber-framed double-hung windows with two-pane upper sashes, timber panelled entrance door with sidelights and fanlight, and an arched two-storey high decorative portico with tessellated tile flooring over the front entry dominating the railway facade.

[3] Internal: The former Station Master's residence is still in use as guest accommodation and generally maintains its original layout and detailing despite the refurbishments over time.

[3] As of 25 August 2009, the station building is generally in good condition with minimal missing mortar joints that present no structural danger.

The Station Master's Residence is generally in good condition externally with cracks on the rusticated render along the bottom portion of the railway elevation.

Access was not available for close inspection of the Old Station platform, however, appears to be in moderate condition due to overgrown grassed environment.

[3] Lithgow Railway Station is of aesthetic significance as it comprises a number of buildings that are individually good examples of their type.

The platform building is a good example of a standard island-building demonstrating the typical characteristics of Federation railway architecture used throughout NSW.

The weatherboard overhead booking and parcels office and the goods lift tower display both aesthetic and technical achievements in design and construction.

[3] Lithgow railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 30 August 2013 having satisfied the following criteria.

The Lithgow Railway Station Group is of aesthetic significance as it comprises a number of buildings that are individually good examples of their type.

The weatherboard overhead booking and parcels office building and the goods lift tower display both aesthetic and technical achievements in design and construction.

Lithgow Railway Station Group has research potential at the local level due to its relatively intact complex of buildings that generally maintain their original relationship and layout.

The group also has the ability to provide valuable information on railway design for the local coal industry as part of the larger rail network.

The 1925 goods lift tower is a unique arrangement and possibly the first example of providing this form of platform access in the railway network.