It has been a wild ride watching the regional charging landscape evolve. In the 7 years I have owned a Tesla, charging in Albury Wodonga has changed dramatically. What started as a modest 6-bay gen 3 Supercharger setup in Wodonga, was eventually dwarfed by the massive 16-bay hub at the Albury Commercial Club.

Now, a newly proposed development could eclipse both and bring the total number of local Tesla charging bays to almost 60.

This is exactly what the Sydney to Melbourne transit route needs. A fresh development application submitted to AlburyCity reveals a proposal for an enormous 37-stall electric vehicle charging station at 19 Diamond Drive in Thurgoona.

This is located right on the northern edge of the twin cities, just off the Hume Highway bypass, with an estimated development cost of A$3,508,400, this project is a massive step up from a standard highway charging site and makes Euroa look like a joke by comparison.

What the planning documents reveal

The application outlines a purpose built EV charging centre on a vacant 1300 square metre commercial block on Diamond Drive. The site is currently vacant and and is located in close proximity to the new Coles plaza, featuring Burger Urge, with McDonalds and Monumental Ice Creamery nearby, Guardian childcare and Thurgoona Medical Precinct all in walking distance.

The headline feature is obviously the stall count, with the plans proposing 37 dedicated EV charging spaces. This includes 36 standard parking bays and one accessible bay.

The plans also confirm that the site will use Tesla V4 charging posts. These newer units feature longer cables, which is critical now that the network supports non-Tesla EVs.

With the growing EV sales in Australia, mixing different brands with varying charge port locations is much easier at a 37-bay mega site where a single awkward parking job will not ruin the experience for everyone else.

We are also finally getting real weather protection. The proposal includes 20 photovoltaic charging canopies (100kW). According to the plans, all exposed steel work will be painted black with a gloss finish, but will also feature a unique timber look cladding.

Because the site backs onto a vegetation buffer zone, the design includes a 2.1 metre high radiant heat barrier fence at the rear for bushfire compliance.

Eliminating the Hume Highway detour

Currently, drivers looking to charge in the border region have to divert off the highway and navigate local traffic to reach either the Wodonga or Albury CBD sites.

Thurgoona changes that equation completely. Sitting right next to the Hume Highway bypass, a site on Diamond Drive allows highway traffic to exit, plug in, and get back on the road in minutes.

The traffic impact assessment indicates the site is expected to generate up to 124 vehicle movements during the Sunday network peak hour. This figure is based on the assumption that a V4 Supercharger can charge a vehicle from 10% to 80% in approximately 30 minutes, which generates up to four vehicle trips per hour for every space at peak times.

A strategic hub for the region

This massive charging investment is not happening in isolation. Albury is also due to get a new Tesla service centre later this year. Combined, these investments show the broader Albury Wodonga region is recognized as a highly strategic location positioned perfectly between Melbourne and Canberra.

The growth in charging infrastructure directly reflects the surging EV adoption rate across Australia. Sites like this provide capacity for the holiday rush while ensuring everyday travellers have a reliable, fast, and comfortable place to recharge.

For more information, head to AlburyCity.