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About Ararat

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.

Health Services

East Grampians Health Service (EGHS) is based in both Ararat and nearby Willaura (34 kilometres south of Ararat) and takes its name from the magnificent mountain range that provides a backdrop to both townships.

Formed in 1995 by the merger of the Ararat and District Hospital, the Willaura and District Hospital and John Pickford House, EGHS is committed to providing quality care and services that meet the needs of the community, and to continuous improvement in the provision of all health-related services.

East Grampians Health Service (EGHS)
Girdlestone Street,
Ararat, Victoria 3377
Ph: (03) 5352 9300

Department of Health Victoria  Gateway to a range of health information for the community and health professionals, including links to the Better Health Channel, publications, food safety alerts, public hospitals and health services statistics, aged care resources, career information and employment opportunties.

Otway Division of General Practice (ODGP)  The Otway DGP, located in south west Victoria, provides education, training and practice management support to allied health, nursing and medical practitioners. They also manage a variety of programs that provide information and support to the community they represent on a wide range of health issues.

Search for a hospital in Victoria  'MyHospitals' is an Australian Government initiative making it easier for people to access information about hospitals, including details on performance, admissions, accreditation and the types of services provided by each hospital.

Victoria's Mental Health Services  Victorian Government website showcasing a range of information on the state's public mental health services, including preventative programs, assessment and treatment options. The information is designed for mental health professionals and for community members, and includes links to related sites and useful resources, publications, and career information and opportunities.

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 when considering dining options is Barkly Street which has more than 20 food establishments, including Chinese, five hotels, bakeries, a fish and chip shop, a pizza parlour and more. 

Sports, Recreation and Tourism

The Ararat and District YMCA is the main sporting facility in Ararat. Facilities include a 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 Chalambar Golf Course is located at Golf Links Road and accepts social members. 

Ararat also has close access to several National Parks for bushwalking and hiking.  These include Ararat Hills Regional Park, Mount Buangor National Park and the Grampians National Park.  More information can be obtained from Parks Victoria.

Popular attractions in Ararat include J Ward Gaol, a museum of the criminally insane, and the Railway Heritage museum. For more information contact the Ararat & Grampians Visitor Information Centre:   

91 High Street,
Ararat, Victoria 3377
Ph: (03) 5355 0281. Freecall: 1800 657 158
E-mail: tourinfo@ararat.vic.gov.au

Banks

There are five major banks - Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), Bendigo Bank, St George Bank, Australia and New Zealand Bank (ANZ) and Westpac - in Ararat. 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 during these times.

Internet access is available to students at the Ararat Visitor Information Centre in High Street each day from 9.00am - 5.00pm.

Post Offices, Fuel and Other Services

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

There are two major service stations in Ararat - Shell and Caltex - plus an independent, The Oaks. Opening hours are generally 6.00am - 10.00pm daily.

The Ararat Laundromat is located at 38-42 High Street.

There are a number of places of worship in Ararat. For further information on these contact the tourist information centre or the church directly.

Local Transport

Ararat Transit operates around the township, with all routes converging at Ararat station.  Access the Ararat bus timetable. Select the link to the current timetable under 'Related publications'.

Ararat Taxis can be contacted on (03) 5352 2283 or (03) 5352 4712.

Travel Times

Ararat is accessible from Melbourne by road and train. Ararat is located 205 kilometres north west of Melbourne, with a travel time of approximately two and a half hours by car. 

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

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.

Contact the Ararat & Grampians Visitor Information Centre:
91 High Street,
Ararat, Victoria 3377
Ph: (03) 5355 0281. Freecall: 1800 657 158
E-mail: tourinfo@ararat.vic.gov.au

For a map of Ararat visit Wilkins Tourist Maps. Select 'Towns' from the top menu, type 'Ararat' in the search box and then select ‘Ararat - VIC' from the list.