The station was built as the terminus of the Geelong and Melbourne Railway Company line. It was a dead-end terminus, located on the site of the present law courts complex. In November 1876, the railway was extended south to Winchelsea, necessitating the relocation of the station to the west, and between 1877 and 1881, the current station building was constructed. The station building was upgraded in 1988, and included new passenger waiting areas and booking offices. Until the 1990s, there was a goods yard, including a large goods shed, located on the eastern side of the station. It is now the site of Geelong's law courts and police station. A locomotive depot remains to the north, and carriage stabling sidings are to the west. In March 2015, a further upgrade to the station was completed, which included the installation of a new DDA-compliantpedestrian overpass connecting all platforms, which included lifts, avoiding the need to use the original heritage-protected pedestrian bridge, which only has stairs.
Platforms and services
Geelong has one island platform with two faces, and one side platform. It is serviced by V/Line Geelong and Warrnambool line services. Some services terminate at Geelong, although most continue south. Prior to the Regional Rail Link opening, almost all trains used platform 1. Platforms 2 & 3 were only used when platform 1 was occupied. Platform 1: Up trains to Southern Cross and down trains to South Geelong, Marshall, and Waurn Ponds. Platform 2: Up and Down Warrnambool trains, terminating services and other services if platform 1 was occupied. Platform 3: Terminating services, Special Heritage services and other services if platform 1 was occupied. After the opening of the Regional Rail Link, Geelong now has three times as many services running, requiring trains to cross at Geelong on a regular basis. The platforms have now been divided into up and down platforms. Platform 1: Down trains to South Geelong, Marshall, Waurn Ponds, and Warrnambool. Platform 2: Up trains when platform 3 is occupied, special heritage services Platform 3: Up trains to Southern Cross, terminating services. It is common for a trains to be in all three platforms e.g. Platform 1: Down Waurn Ponds Platform 2: Up stopping all stations Platform 3: Up express from Warrnambool. Platform 1:
Geelong line: V/Line services to South Geelong, Marshall, Waurn Ponds, and Southern Cross
Warrnambool line: V/Line services to Warrnambool, and Southern Cross
Platform 2:
Geelong line: V/Line services from South Geelong, Marshall, Waurn Ponds to Southern Cross
Warrnambool line: V/Line services from Warrnambool to Southern Cross
Platform 3:
Geelong line: V/Line services from South Geelong, Marshall, Waurn Ponds to Southern Cross
Warrnambool line: V/Line services from Warrnambool to Southern Cross