Business categories in Ararat, VIC

Welcome to Ararat, VIC

Based in Victoria, Ararat is a city. It lies 198km west of Melbourne and sits on the Western Highway. According to the 2011 census, it has a population of over 7,100 people. Ararat takes its name from Mt Ararat.

History

The Tjapwurong people are the original inhabitants of Ararat.

In the 1840s, European settlers arrived. In 1856, Ararat opened a post office. Miners found gold in 1857, and the area began to grow. Farmers planed grapevines in 1863. As a result, the Grampians Wine Region joined wool and beef as Ararat’s main industries. The city had two mental health asylums. Both have now since closed.

Lifestyle and Entertainment

Ararat’s former town hall, an ornate building with an intricate clock, is a thriving art gallery and theatre. Horse racing and Australian rules football are the city’s biggest sports, but motocross is quickly gaining pace. Tours are available at the old asylums.

The Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre celebrates the city’s strong Chinese community.

Rich, fertile countryside surrounds Ararat, dotted with farms and vineyards.