The construction of the line to Narrandera, however, was perpetuated by pastoral interests that overthrew the "Trunk Railways Policy".

Narrandera was one of many centres in NSW (along with Hay and other towns in surrounding districts) to benefit from the "railway mania" of the 1870s and 1880s.

[4] Some of the early changes to the station at Narrandera included: the erection of the Junction name board (1891), provision of horse posts at front of station building (1891), office for the Traffic sub-inspector (1891), Hay line brought in to Narrandera independently of Tocumwal branch line, construction of overbridge at Junee end of station (1892), installation of 20 tonne cart weighbridge and an additional coal stage (1900), loop erected for stock loading (1902), provision of an 18.2m turntable (1910), conversion of the ladies waiting room into a refreshment room (1912), and many other additions.

[1] Initially, the main freight moved to Sydney included wool, sheep and small amounts of wheat.

[1] From 1910 to 1950, special trains were used to transport football players and spectators within the Riverina district, with women doing the weekly shopping at the same time.

[1] Narrandera is served by the twice weekly NSW TrainLink Xplorer between Griffith and Sydney split from Canberra services at Goulburn.

Both the recessed entrance porch and the platform verandah have stop chamfered timber posts and iron lace brackets.

[1] Narrandera railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.

The site is significant as a partly intact late Victorian railway complex with items dating from the opening of the station in 1881.

The penetration of the railway into the Riverina area also reveals inter-colonial rivalry in the late 19th century, namely concerns by the NSW government about Victorian competition for agricultural produce in this region.

[1] The place is important in demonstrating aesthetic characteristics and/or a high degree of creative or technical achievement in New South Wales.

The station building is a substantial and aesthetically significant structure with a large awning to the platform and includes some notable decorative features such as bargeboards, finials and pendants.

[1] The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

[1] This Wikipedia article contains material from Narrandera Railway Station and yard group, entry number 01209 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.