Mitchell railway station is located on the Western line in the Maranoa Region, Queensland, Australia.

Railway development became the province of government because of the doubtful economics of building and operating private rail services for the widely distributed, sparse population of rural Queensland.

As well as providing graziers and farmers with a more efficient transport link to the coast, railways were seen as a key to encouraging closer settlement west of the Great Dividing Range.

A line south to Warwick was opened in 1871 and in August 1872, approval was granted to extend the railway in Central Queensland and to start an Ipswich to Brisbane rail link.

The explorer spoke highly of the country's pastoral potential and within two years, squatters had occupied runs in the vicinity of Mount Abundance to the south of the present township of Mitchell.

The river formed a natural barrier and until a bridge was constructed, a temporary terminus at East Mitchell was established.

A public holiday was proclaimed and a free "excursion train" ran from Roma to the new terminus, but no formal ceremony was held owing to the lack of notice given of the opening.

In 1884, this figure dropped to 1,308 bales with the new terminus at East Mitchell recording 9,545, the largest quantity on the western line.

Originally 101 feet (31 m) long, the shed was quite large and this is indicative of the high goods traffic passing through the station initially.

By as early as 1894 this standard had changed and in 1917 the Mitchell residence was recorded as a third class station master's house.

[2] Minor modifications to the station master's residence in the 20th century included the removal of the original brick chimney and replacement with an iron stove recess c. 1945 and extension of the awning over the northeastern side verandah in 1963.

Over 100 metres (330 ft) away from these structures towards the north, is the station master's house located on a separate allotment accessed from Ann Road.

These open out onto a small loading platform and give access into the store room at the south western end of the building.

Short straight timber brackets extend from the midpoint of the horizontal member down to the wall at an angle of approximately 45°.

[2] The goods shed (currently used by Aurizon and Watco Australia) is a large timber-framed structure, clad in corrugated iron.

On the northwestern elevation, two large ledge and brace sliding doors provide road transport access to an internal loading bay.

Outside the shed on the southeastern side, a raised timber platform runs along the rail tracks almost the full length of the elevation.

[2] The station master's house is a timber-framed building clad with weatherboards, sitting on short concrete stumps.

Access is gained to the verandah via a short, centrally positioned staircase opposite a four-paneled front door.

[2] The northeastern verandah roof is extended by a skillion, approximately one metre wide, running the full length of the elevation.

Short straight timber brackets extend from the midpoint of each horizontal member down to the posts at an angle of approximately 45°.

Two double-hung sash windows and a set of French doors (which open into the rear bedroom) are spaced evenly along the elevation.

[2] The kitchen at the rear of the house has a projecting stove recess, clad with curved corrugated iron, in the southwest elevation.

The approach to the door is via a short staircase running parallel to the wall and ending on a small landing covered by a skillion roof.

The allotment is almost bare of vegetation except for an assortment of small shrubs and trees growing mostly at the rear of the block.

[2] Mitchell railway station was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 8 September 2005 having satisfied the following criteria.

The establishment of a railway station at Mitchell was consistent with the town's historic role as a node on southwestern Queensland's transport network, being located at the junction of roads to Roma, Charleville, Bollon and St George.

The earliest identified Queensland Rail standard drawing of this type of station master's residence dates to 1889, five years after the construction of the Mitchell house.

The station master's house is important in illustrating the varied work of Queensland Railway's architectural office during the tenure of Henrik Hansen, the Danish born architect who was responsible for the design of many standard Queensland Rail buildings of the nineteenth century.

The complex, including the station master's house, makes a strong aesthetic contribution to the townscape of Mitchell.