It is located on the Fremantle line, 10.4 kilometres from Perth station serving the suburbs of Swanbourne, Claremont and Cottesloe.

Swanbourne station opened on 1 March 1904 as Congdon Street.

The last change was at the request of the Commissioner of Railways to eliminate confusion with Osborne Park in the city's north-west.

[6][7] The station closed on 1 September 1979 along with the rest of the Fremantle line, re-opening on 29 July 1983 when services were restored.

[8] From 2034, Swanbourne station's platforms are planned to be extended to the east to accommodate six-car trains.