20th century

The original Wendouree station opened on 9 December 1901 as Ballarat Gardens, and was renamed Wendouree on 1 August 1905.^[3] It was located just west of the Forest Street level crossing, 750 metres east of the present station, and was closed to passenger traffic on 4 October 1981, as part of the New Deal for Country Passengers timetable.^[4] Prior to its closure, the only train timetabled to stop at Wendouree was a Horsham service on Sundays.^[4]

In 1992, boom barriers replaced interlocked gates at the Gillies Street level crossing, in the up direction from the present station.^[5]

At Gillies Street, near the site of the current station, there was a 19th-century signal box, which controlled the Ballarat Cattle Yards junction. After falling into disrepair, the Public Transport Corporation was approached by Kim Lynden, who successfully tendered to move the building to Blampied in 1998, where it is used as a bed and breakfast facility.^[6]

21st century

On 8 September 2006, then Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, announced a new station would be built to relieve congestion at Ballarat, following a passenger boom after the completion of the Regional Fast Rail project.^[7][8]

The station was the subject of a naming competition, which closed in April 2007.^[9] Construction work started in May 2008,^[10][11] with the station originally due for completion in that year.^[12]

On 11 June 2009, the station was opened by the then Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky, with services commencing on 14 June.^[13] The cost of the station and associated works was initially projected to be $11 million, but eventually cost $18.7 million.^[14]

In 2021, as part of the Regional Rail Revival project, Platform 2 and its refuge siding was opened opposite Platform 1,^[2] allowing terminating Ballarat trains to not block Ararat trains that use Platform 1, with a footbridge, lifts, ramps and stairs connecting the platforms. There was also an upgrade to the station forecourt.^[15]