Illabo was opened in 1878 and nothing is known yet of the original buildings and when they were replaced. However, one fact that stands out in the days of real pride in the railways, Illabo was a regular winner in garden competitions. Yes, this small wayside station had both platforms covered in a massive organized and neat display of floral species, with the typical crushed white gravel platforms. Before OH and S nastiness denoted plants and trees as a hazard, station staff were encouraged to grow, cultivate, and tend, massive station gardens. And Illabo regularly took prizes in this regard, but wound up with the obscene state of nothing but concrete, ashphalt and glass dominating. By the time I visited all that was left was the stump the station building containing the signal box and the up platform. A picture at NSWrail.net shows the complete scene, however decay has well and truely set in. Today of course, nothing remains of the old time workers, and their labours, from a different time, with different values.
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