Ararat (Australien)

Ararat (Vorlage:Coor dm) is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia.

Ararat is the largest town in the local government area known as the Rural City of Ararat. The town is approximately 205 kilometres west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway. Ararat is in the federal Division of Wannon. It has a population of approximately 8220.

History

In 1836, surveyor Thomas Mitchell passed through the area.

In 1841, Horatio Wills, on his way to selecting country further south, wrote in his diary, "like the Ark we rested" and named a nearby hill Mt Ararat. It is from this entry and the nearby Mount that the town takes its name.^[1]

Ararat began as the result of a short-lived gold boom which began in 1857. The Post Office opened February 1, 1856 although known as Cathcart until August 31, 1857.^[2] Vines were planted in 1863 by French settlers.

Economy

Primary industries in the region include wool, beef and wine. A regional campus of the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE is located in Ararat. The town has a regional airport YARA (ARY). It is the sister city to Taishan, China.

Tourism

Tourist attractions include:

J Ward, a gaol for criminally insane closed in 1991 and now a museum
Jailhouse Rock Festival
Challicum Hills Wind Farm
Gum San Gold Museum
Ararat Regional Art Gallery
The Golden Gateway Festival
Numerous local wineries
Close to the Grampians National Park

Trivia

Two Royal Australian Navy ships have been named after this town. HMAS Ararat (K 34), a Bathurst class corvette, and HMAS Ararat (ACPB 89), an Armidale class patrol boat.