A new retail outlet is proposed for Cronulla station in an area that originally housed a booking office and male toilets.
Sydney Trains has lodged a development application for the space, which is used at present for office needs and storage.
The proposed development would be between the Nudo cafe and Milk Bar, which would not be affected.
Access would be from both Cronulla Street and the station platform.
Sydney Trains has not yet identified a use for the new retail space, identified as shop 5, but says it will be leased to "quality tenants".
An up-market cafe is an obvious possibility.
The station is listed on the State Heritage Register, so there has been extensive consultation over proposed works.
Sydney Trains has agreed not to carry out any base build works until evidence is provided to the Office of Environment and Heritage of a lease agreement.
The construction cost has been estimated at $148,400.
Cronulla station, at the end of the branch train line from Sutherland, was officially opened on December 16, 1939 by the NSW Governor Lord Wakehurst.
"The Cronulla Station terminus was unlike any other in the Sydney network," a heritage impact statement said.
"Cronulla had become a major tourist resort and the station was constructed close to the beach for this reason. `
"To cater for peak visitor times, its long, single sided loading platform was designed to take two full length electric trains end to end, which allowed large crowds to move quickly in and out of trains and off the platform."
The statement said the station was "distinguished by the buildings prominent, yet minimalist clock tower, curved cantilevered steel awnings that stepped along the facade and courses of contrasting brickwork".
"At its opening, the station building, from the north to the south consisted of a male lavatory, ladies' lavatory, store room, a ladies' waiting room and general waiting room, as well as a booking hall (the existing entrance), a booking office and parcels office," the statement said.
"A range of offices were located at this southern portion of the station building, which included the station master's office, a driver's room, traffic staff room and a space for signal equipment.
"The building was extended to the north in the 1960s to include a refreshment room kiosk, known as the Milk Bar at the northern end, beyond the male lavatory.
"The 1960s extensions and modifications were in keeping with the Inter-War Functionalist style of the building.
"A series of station upgrades in 1994 included the modification of the station building's facade, converting the male lavatory at the northern end of the building to a waiting room and small office.
"These alterations were in keeping with Inter-War Functionalist style of the building too
"The two spaces subject to the proposed works were originally part of the 1939 male lavatory at the northern end of the main Cronulla station building.
"This use was retained until 1994 when the space was reconfigured into a retail/office space and a waiting room."
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