Gargarro Botanic Gardens has installed a new electric vehicle charger in front of its café, ready for tourists to visit. Greg Fitzpatrick, Athol 'Doc' McDonald and Jan Smith led the project, along with Potentia Energy, which runs the Girgarre Solar Farm.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
Girgarre has been on the front foot of renewable technology for the better part of a decade, but its newest venture will quite literally drive the town into a future of sustainable tourism.
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With a population just under 600, Girgarre has become one of the smallest towns in Victoria to have an electric vehicle charging station.
The station was officially switched on on Monday, January 26 in the parking lot of the town’s landmark spot, the Gargarro Botanic Gardens, and is expected to drive tourism into town.
The location plugs a hole in the map of EV chargers in the region, with the next closest being outside Campaspe Shire — around 25km away in Tatura.
And with electric car sales growing at a rapid rate — accounting for 11.05 per cent of all car sales for the back end of 2025 — Gargarro Botanic Gardens project convener Athol ‘Doc’ McDonald said the prospect of promoting sustainable tourism in Girgarre was exciting.
“When we started the Gargarro Gardens project ... the first big grant (was about) Girgarre Revival — and revive and renew,” Doc said.
“Well, I guess revival sustainability fits right in there. You gotta be on the front foot.”
With the car plugged in, it’s time to grab a coffee.
Photo by
Jemma Jones
The EV charger project has been two years in the making, starting with talks with Potentia Energy.
The renewables powerhouse operates both the local Girgarre Solar Farm and a subsidiary that specialises in EV charging equipment.
Solar panels were installed on key town buildings, including the Gargarro Botanic Gardens, cutting their electricity costs in half.
They then moved on to the possibility of installing the first EV charger.
Development committee leaders Jan Smith and Greg Fitzpatrick are confident the charging station will draw more visitors, strengthening Girgarre's reputation as a must-visit destination heading into the era of the electric vehicle.
“I think it would increase traffic to the café immediately,” Greg said.
“And in a few years’ time, when every second car is electric, recharging points will be big and Girgarre will ready.”
Agreeing, Jan said it was adding to Girgarre’s already bustling tourism landscape — something that the town’s residents had taken in stride over the past decade of development.
“(The garden) has far exceeded what we all thought it would be,” she said.
“Now the things are happening, like the solar electrifying the front gate, the EV charger.
“Everything that we had on a list of wishes a decade ago has happened.
“If I had to sum it up in one word — I’d call it opportunity.
“Girgarre is a little community that thinks well and makes the most of opportunities.”
