Scarborough may be named after the seaside resort in Yorkshire, England; or after one of the convict transport vessels in the First Fleet.

By the early 20th century, the Scarborough area, like Austinmer and Thirroul, had developed a reputation as a tourist resort.

When the station originally opened in 1887 it was the northern terminus on the isolated part of the Illawarra line which at that time extended to Wollongong.

Some peak hour and late night services operate to Sydney Central, Bondi Junction and Kiama.

The perimeters of the station are defined with dark green powder coated aluminium fencing.

The building features timber framed double hung windows with 9-paned top sashes with coloured glass panes to most.

The building features timber framed double hung windows, with 9-paned top sashes with coloured glass panes to most.

[3] A set of modern concrete stairs accessing the south end of Platform 2 from the First Street overbridge.

[3] Scarborough Railway Station is located in a bushland setting with views of the Illawarra escarpment to the west.

[3] Usability Services departing from Scarborough station are typically not available on most weekends due to trackwork.

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

[3] The place is important in demonstrating the course, or pattern, of cultural or natural history in New South Wales.

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

[3] The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a class of cultural or natural places/environments in New South Wales.

[3] This Wikipedia article contains material from Scarborough Railway Station group, entry number 01241 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.