There’s the town of Albury, there’s the town of Wodonga. Between the two is the lovely stretch of road called the Lincoln Causeway and currently there’s a spot to put something exciting on it.
But decision makers of Albury Wodonga, please read my words and heed my call. Whatever you decide, please don’t plonk another petrol service station there. Because unlike my car currently ever, I think we’re full up at the moment.
No seriously Albury Wodonga, we really don’t need another servo for a while.
There’s Apco, there’s Liberty Quickstop, there’s the newly built Pearl Energy, there’s various 7-11’s, there’s OTR, there’s that Shell on the way to work where I tried for weeks to win that Ford Mustang (never got a call on that, maybe it’s still coming?) and I’m sure there’s plenty of others who’s name escapes me at the moment. But on both sides of these sister cities, there’s plenty of places to fill up with petrol, diesel and LPG on both sides of Lincoln Causeway.
If I ever run out of petrol in either town, I reckon I’d be just a five minute car push from being able to fill up the tank again.
Ergo, we really don’t need another service station on Lincoln Causeway. No seriously, please don’t approve another one, that’d just be Albury Wodonga servo overkill. Yes just because someone bought the Wetheral Masonry site, it doesn’t mean you automatically need or should approve the first application to install another service station there.
Adelaide might be known as the city of churches, but somehow I don’t think either Albury or Wodonga needs to be known as the cities of having more petrol stations than you could possibly fill up at.
I have been wondering about Wetheral Masonry for a while
And not only the Wetheral Masonry building and site but certainly the defunct fun park/mini golf further up the road on Lincoln Causeway, both which have been inactive for as long as I’ve been here. You can’t miss either of them as you drive from one town to another but today I learnt through the Border Mail that the Masonry site has sold at least. We know it was to a Melbourne developer, we known it was for a price close to 3 million dollars, what we don’t know is the future plans for it. It’s a great tract of land, it’s in a prominent position, it backs onto the river, it was touted to become a caravan park, it could be anything.*
*Anything but another servo would probably be a good start.
What’s on Lincoln Causeway at the moment?
–The Lincoln, a great pub.
-Gateway Lakes, a fantastic place for outdoor concerts.
-La Mason’s, a brilliant fine dining restaurant
-Farmers markets on weekends
-The Wetheral Masonry site
-A mini railway
-That defunct fun park
-No servos
What could go on Lincoln Causeway where Wetheral Masonry currently is?
Okay, let’s get a very sensible answer out of the way from Ben who had a suggestion when the site went back on the market back in Feb this year:
And given how prominent the need for updated hospitals is for Albury Wodonga, that’s actually a pretty rock solid suggestion Ben. If not hospitals, then how about medical specialists that you don’t have to drive hours to Melbourne or Sydney to see?
There was also talk for a while about turning to the spot into a nice looking caravan park which has plenty of merit given how close it would be to both cities.
But for some non servo related suggestions for the spot I feel also worthy of consideration, how about…
ALBURY WODONGA TOP GOLF! – There’s plenty of fairway loving seasoned golf pros out this way but for the occasional hacker with a terrible slice like myself? That’s where Top Golf really comes to play. Think of a high tech driving range surrounded by netting with GPS locators in the balls, bays for groups, multi levels, food and plenty of cold beer.
Boy oh boy do I miss the one on the Gold Coast where I was first introduced to it.
If not top golf, perhaps a mini golf setup to replace the one not open down the road?
ALBURY WODONGA GO KARTING! – Now there is Karting currently on the Border, but it’s more ‘I’m going to become a red hot go kart pro’ rather than ‘I’m going to beat my mates around the office in karting one arvo, hold my beer!’ session. And given the size of this land, you could certainly pop a fun track in place of the outside area and one that tracks in and out of the original building would be a ripper.
ANOTHER HOTEL/RESORT/ACCOMMODATION – Honestly I have a sense this just may be where the site is heading. Albury Wodonga is already a super popular destination and another accommodation option for all the car shows, fun runs and public holidays we enjoy here probably wouldn’t go astray.
Like I mentioned earlier, there’s been plans to possibly turn the site into a caravan park so my idea of a hotel might be closer to the money than first thought..
A TRACK FOR ALL THOSE BEAM SCOOTERS IN ALBURY? – Er maybe not. Albury hasn’t decided if they’re going to keep them or not yet.
ALBURY WODONGA PAINTBALL! – Again we do have a local paintball option if you’re prepared to drive a bit, but maybe we could convince them to up ship and move to between the towns? I could just picture how much fun the original building would be as a paintball operation once you stripped it back..
SOMETHING I HAVEN’T THOUGHT OF THAT’S FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY? – Just as long as it’s not another servo. I think we’re good for a long time to come.
And finally, what we probably don’t need to double on
Another gym – World Gym Albury is go, we’ve got Club Lime, Albury F45, Crossfit, Fernwood, Anytime, Genesis Wodonga and plenty of personal trainers across the traps, I think we’re good there.
Another donut store – With Daniel’s Donuts Albury opened recently along with all the 7-11’s across the border with their Krispy Kremes, Rebel Donuts in Harris Farm, a few Donut Kings and the portable Happy Cat Donuts, I’d say we’re almost donutted out.
A service station – Have I mentioned this yet?
Other posts about Albury Wodonga
Crickets on the Border – No not the national sport, actual cricket insects descending on our neck of the woods courtesy of some previous cold weather..
How cold is Albury Wodonga? – Speaking of the weather, apparently a lot of people are searching it up before the come and visit (possibly to buy some land on Lincoln Causeway?)