Sutherland station opened on 26 December 1885 as the interim terminus of the Illawarra line when it was extended from Hurstville.

It consisted of a brick station facing both the road and railway, a goods shed, and a stationmaster's residence.

Although the electric wires continued south to Loftus and Royal National Park, until this was extended to Waterfall in 1980, Sutherland was the transfer station for services to Wollongong.

On 15 November 1993, an upgraded footbridge with a new ticket office and lifts was opened by Minister for Transport Bruce Baird.

In 2010, as part of the CityRail Clearways Program, the junction to the south of the station leading to the Cronulla railway line was duplicated.