Students

Ararat

Accommodation

About Ararat

Ararat was established in 1954 by the Chinese after gold was found 6km west of the town. It was named after a nearby mountain and declared a municipality in 1958. 

Today, Ararat is a town of 7,100 people and is well known for its fine wine and wool, along with the regions diverse range of agricultural crops.
With temperatures averaging 10C-26C in Summer and 4C-12C in the Winter, Ararat has some beautiful landscapes to be explored, such as the wonderful gardens, national and state parks, and a drive up to One Tree Hill which will provide breathtaking views of nearby Mt Cole, Mt Langi Ghiran and the Grampians

Shopping

Ararat has numerous retail outlets for clothing, homeware, electrical and general goods. There are 2 large supermarket chains, Coles and Safeway. Please note that the opening hours are typically more restricted than those in the city, and in most towns the typical opening hours are from 7am-10pm daily.
There is also a Trash and Treasure Market on the 2nd Sunday of every Month from 9am-1.30pm at Alexander Hall.

Dining

Ararat has a variety of places to eat including restaurants, takeaways, hotels, cafes, bistros and bakeries. A good place to start is Barkley St which has more than 20 places to eat including, Chinese, five hotels, bakeries, fish and Chips, pizza and much more.

Attractions

Popular attractions in Ararat include J Ward Gaol - museum of the criminally insane and the Railway Heritage museum. To download a free passport with discounted entry to local attractions go to www.visitararat.com.

Sports and Recreation

The Ararat and District YMCA is the main sporting facility in Ararat. Facilities include, heated 25m indoor pool, spa, sauna, gymnasium, gymnastics/aerobics area, basketball/netball courts and squash courts. The Ararat & District YMCA is located at 61-73 High Street, Ararat 3377. There is also a golf course, and access to many national parks for bushwalking and hiking.

Useful Information

Banks
There are five major banks including the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the Bendigo Bank, St George, ANZ and Westpac. Bank hours are typically 9.00am-4.00pm Monday to Friday, although ATMs allow 24/7 access to funds.

Library
The Ararat Regional Library is located in Barkly Street and is open Monday-Friday from 10am-5.30pm and from 10am-Midday on a Saturday.

Internet Access
Internet access is available to students at the following locations in Ararat:

Post Office
The Ararat Post Shop is located at 93 Barkly St and is open from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

Petrol Stations
There are three major Service Stations in Ararat and opening hours are generally 6am-10pm daily.

Laundromat
The Ararat Laundromat is located at 38-42 High St, and is open 8:00am to 9:00pm.

Local Bus Service
Getting around Ararat is easy, Ararat Transit will take you wherever you want to go. Ararat transit operates north, south, east and west of the Ararat town centre. All routes converge at Ararat station. This interchange intersects with all town bus services and V/Line coaches and trains. For information on fares, services and timetables visit VicLink.

Places of Worship
There are 8 main places of worship in Ararat. For further information on places of worship, contact the tourist information centre or ring the church direct.

Travel Times

Ararat is located 205 kilometres north west of Melbourne and is accessible by both car and train.
The travel time is approximately 2½ hours by car from Melbourne to Ararat. 
Ararat is accessible from Melbourne by both car and train.

If you are travelling from somewhere other than Melbourne, or would like further information on transport to Ararat, visit VicLink.

Further Information

For more information on local attractions or a calendar of events go to www.visitararat.com. For more information on shopping and dining a Business Directory is also available at www.ararat.vic.gov.au Select 'Business and Community Directories' from the menu at the top of the page.

Alternatively contact the Ararat Visitor Information Centre:
91 High Street,
Ararat, VIC 3377
Ph: (03) 5355 0281

Orientation Tours can be arranged for students whilst they are on placement, or for a map of Ararat you can visit Wilkins Tourist Maps. Select 'Towns' from the top menu, type 'Ararat' in the search box and then select ‘Ararat - VIC' from the list.