Named after James Service, who was Premier of Victoria in 1880 and from 1883 to 1886, it was established when the inter-colonial railway line between Adelaide and Melbourne was completed in 1887.

[5] The eastern border of South Australia was declared in 1834 to be the meridian of the 141st degree of east longitude.

[7]: 5  Nevertheless, a border was not formalised and it was reported that "a number of bad characters resort to this neutral ground, knowing that the police cannot interfere with them until the question of jurisdiction is determined.

[10] When Australia federated in 1901, inter-state customs collection ceased, but locomotives continued to be changed until the 1980s.

As of the 2010s, the building was leased by V/Line to the Shire of West Wimmera and managed by a committee elected from the local community to voluntarily operate, maintain and preserve it.