A former goldmining town, now a regional centre, the city of Ararat is noted for its many fine colonial era buildings and gold mining heritage.
Where is it?: Victoria: Western Districts. Ararat is 200 km west of Melbourne on the Western Highway.
Lookouts: One Tree Hill lookout provides panoramic views of the city and surroundings.
Events: Ararat takes great pride in its parks and recreation grounds, which are the venues for the annual Golden Gate Festival and a Highlands meeting at New Year. Ararat hosts a chess tournament on the Queen's Bithday weekend.
Things to see and do:
Heritage features: Ararat has a rich history, centred mainly around the goldmining activities of the 1850s/60s. These are recalled in the Gum San (Hill of Gold) Heritage Centre and numerous historic buildings - former office of Warden of Goldfields (c.1857); Ararat Mental Hospital for Men (c.1862); YMCA (former Common School, 1876); 'Aradale' Mental Hospital (1864-67); Gate Lodge, (c.1866); Gorrinn estate and woolshed (1860s, 14 south-east).
Surrounding area:
The Grampians, an area of waterfalls, valleys, mountains and woodlands set amid three stark and spectacular ridges of upthrust sandstone, are a short drive from Ararat.
The Pyrenees region centres on the Pyrenees Ranges of western Victoria and the former gold mining towns of the area. Much of this part of Victoria was founded on gold prospecting and gold is still mined today. The Pyrenees is one of the oldest wine regions in Victoria, and home to the famous Seppelt's Great Western undeground cellars (16 km west). The signature grape of the region, Shiraz, has long been recognised for its complex and distinctive flavours, though a diverse range of varietals are also produced locally. The Great western estate was established in 1865 by Joseph Best. Tours of the Seppelt & Sons cellars and winery are available. More >>
About Ararat
Ararat is a neat, attractive commercial centre for the district with a number of secondary manufacturing industries related to its agricultural focus. Its name is taken from nearby Mt Ararat. This feature was named by early settler Horatio S Willis, because he "rested there as the the Ark had rested at Mt Ararat" in the Bible. Aboriginal name: Butinich.
Ararat's economy is driven by primary industries of the region including wool, beef and the Grampians Wine Region. The region has a number of wind farms including the Challicum Hills Wind Farm produce large amounts of renewable energy to the National Electricity Market.
Ararat is nestled between several mountain ranges, including the Grampians National Park, Mount Langi Ghiran, Mount Cole, Mount Buangor, Ararat Hills Regional Park and the Pyrenees Ranges. Green Hill lake is nearby also which provides many water sport activities.
Brief history: the area was explored by Major Sir Thomas Mitchell in 1836, its first Eueopean farmer was Horatio S Willis. Gold was discovered at Pinkey Point in 1854 and Blackmans Lead but it soon petered out. In 1857, a party of Chinese miners en route to the Central Victorian gold fields struck gold at the Canton Lead which marked the beginning of great growth in Ararat. The Chinese community was substantial in Ararat, the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre commemorates the history of the community. The area returned to sheep farming in 1860s. The railway arrived in 1875. A post World War I soldier settlement scheme failed, Ararat was proclaimed a town in 1934 and a city in 1950.
View Larger Map
