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Ararat

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About Ararat

 

 

 

 

About Ararat

Ararat was established in 1854 by the Chinese after gold was found nearby. It was named after a nearby mountain and declared a municipality in 1858. 

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 26 degrees celsius in summer and 12 degrees celsius 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 provides breathtaking views of nearby Mt Cole, Mt Langi Ghiran and the Grampians.

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.

Shopping

Ararat has numerous retail outlets for clothing, homeware, electrical and general goods. There are two large supermarket chains, Coles and Safeway.Please note that the opening hours are typically more restricted than those in the city.

There is also a Trash and Treasure Market on the second Sunday of every month from 9.00am - 1.30pm at Alexander Hall.

Dining

Ararat has a variety of places to eat including restaurants, take away, 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 

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.

Banks

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

Libraries and Internet Access

The Ararat Regional Library is located in Barkly Street and is open Monday to Friday from 10.00am - 5.30pm and 10.00am - 12.00pm on a Saturday.

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

Local Transport

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. 

Post Offices, Fuel and Other Services

The Ararat Post Shop is located at 93 Barkly St and is open from 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday.

There are three major service stations in Ararat and opening hours are generally 6.00am - 10.00pm daily.

The Ararat Laundromat is located at 38-42 High St, and is open 8.00am - 9.00pm.

There are eight 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 accessible from Melbourne by both car and train. Ararat is located 205 kilometres north west of Melbourne, with a travel time of approximately 2.5 hours by car from Melbourne to Ararat. 


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

Further Information

View more information on Ararat

For additional 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

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.