Conceived originally as an imposing two-storeyed structure the Toowoomba station was designed by Sir Charles Fox in England in mid-1866.

[1] The original station design featured a refreshment-dining room area but by the turn of the century it was apparent that larger facilities would be required.

[1] A magnificent wooden Roll of Honour board at the north end of the station pays tribute to the role of Toowoomba railway workers in the armed services in World War I.

Although now disconnected (May 1993) the interior of this cabin illustrates older methods of safeworking and train control now superseded by automatic signalling.

At the Eastern edge of the shunting yard a mechanical balance scale is still extant, housed in a weighbridge shelter shed.

[1] The Westinghouse brake examination pit and shed, possibly constructed c. 1900 is also located in the outer areas of the yard.

Of particular significance is the checkboard placed on wall of interior of this shed, listing passenger car brake examinations and overhaul dates.

The cabin interior is still intact, and includes signal levers, safeworking instruments and Toowoomba yard diagram.

[1] The artefacts and structures listed above all form an important role in providing an overview of the working environment not only of the station, but also of the railway yards themselves.

They are significant because they add to the understanding of both the station as a separate entity, and as a fully operational working railway environment.

[1] The Toowoomba Railway Station contains intact evidence of its growth, development and workings in its Station Building, Refreshment Room Wing, Goods Shed, annexes, platform outbuildings, Honour Roll, canopies, and yard structures It also contains finely detailed architectural elements in the exteriors of the Station Building and Refreshment Room Wing, the Honour Roll, and Refreshment Room interior, furnishings and fittings.

The building is finely detailed externally: the corners have pilasters formed by projecting quoins; floor and sill levels are articulated with string courses; the western ground floor openings have arched heads with keystones framed by continuous mouldings, and include a wide arch over a centrally placed entrance to the platform; the eastern ground floor windows have square heads and projecting quoins; the upper floor windows are framed with scrolled brackets supporting moulded projecting heads; the cornice has dentils and the gable ends have cartouches.

The first floor interiors retain some vertically jointed timber-lined walls and a small timber service window.

The annex to the southern end contains store-rooms and toilets, including a Ladies Waiting Room of generous proportions.

A small timber-lined kiosk (1936) with timber roll-down louvred shutters opening out onto the platform is located at the northern end.

The walls are decorated with large black and white photographs of local beauty spots, and the tables are set with monogrammed silverware and crockery.

The finely crafted Honour Roll is housed at the northern end of a steel framed and timber pavilion with open sides.

The canopy attached to the Station Building and Refreshment Room Wing is framed in timber and has an arched corrugated iron roof.

[1] The Porter's Shed and Guard's Hut (1908-1915) (used by Aurizon and Watco Australia) are located to the south of the main station buildings.

These modest weatherboard buildings are connected by a battened store and have pitched corrugated iron roofs with awnings supported on timber brackets.

[1] Cabin B is a weatherboard clad room adjoining the main entry to the platform which contains intact safeworking and interlocking equipment - comprising several steel levers, a yard diagram, and electrical staff equipment with shaped red painted steel and brass encasing mounted on a concrete pedestal.

[1] Located within the railway yard, The Goods Shed (1896) is a long rectangular building with substantial timber trusses and bracketed central columns.

[1] Other yard structures include Signal Cabin A (taken out of service by Queensland Rail in mid-1993), a water crane and a wagon weighbridge.

Signal Cabin A is a two-storeyed chamferboard-clad building with pitched corrugated iron roofs, a cantilevered timber catwalk overlooking the railway at first floor level.

The first floor contains a large frame of colour-coded mechanical steel signalling levers, timber and brass track indicators, and a yard diagram.

The Water Crane comprises a cast iron hollow tube surmounted by a rotating cast iron feeder arm with valve controls and a canvas tube attached, mounted on a concrete pedestal and adjacent to a concrete drain.