[2] Longreach Station opened in February 1892 as the interim terminus of the Central Western line when it was extended from Barcaldine.

The decision to extend the railway from Barcaldine (1886) to Longreach was the result of pressure being brought to bear by parliamentary representatives from Central Division and the fear that the northern Separation Movement could succeed.

[1] The Longreach site was selected by railways surveyors due to the presence of a large waterhole on the Thomson River.

[1] At the time the extension was completed, the bitterness of the Shearers' Strike was affecting the town and Premier Sir Samuel Griffith was rebuffed when he arrived to try to officially open the line.

[1] In 1912 Commissioner Evans promised a deputation of locals that he would ask the government to build a station at Longreach similar to that at Winton.

[1] The current timber station was completed in 1916 to a design attributed to Henrik Hansen, this date appearing on the pediment.

[1] The station complex has a prominent location on the Landsborough Highway at the northern end of the main commercial precinct.

[1] On the northern side of the building is the cantilevered steel framed platform awning with bull-nose front edge.

[1] The building has an imposing open front verandah with paired timber posts, capitals and brackets with a hipped main roof with a parapet surmounted by turned finials.

[1] Internally, some suspended exposed grid drop-in ceilings have been installed and new tiling has been laid in the entrance ticket hallway.

[1] One original colonial sash window and double tongue and groove VJ doors are located in the eastern side of the building.

[1] A single track enters the shed at the western and eastern ends through new hinged double gates clad with colorbond.

[1] Timber struts to a projecting roof forming an awning are located over a former loading platform, southern wall.

[1] A new office (currently utilized by Aurizon) with recent aluminum framed windows has been installed in the south-west corner.

[1] A freestanding male toilet block is at the east end of station, with pyramid roof, part chamferboard wall cladding and glass louvre windows.

The station helps to demonstrate the pattern of Queensland history as Longreach is one of the largest of the many towns which developed as the result of railway construction.

The passenger station, platform, refreshment room, goods shed and other ancillary buildings are significant for their contribution to an understanding of how the complex functioned.

The passenger station, platform awning and refreshment room exhibit aesthetic characteristics valued by the community as finely-detailed and well-executed examples of railway buildings.

They make a substantial contribution to the townscape at the junction of the Landsborough Highway with the main street of Longreach and form part of an important urban precinct including parkland and a memorial.