Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia, about 205 kilometres (130 mi) west of Melbourne, on the Western Highway.
Set between mountain ranges and surrounded by fertile grazing country, its estimated population is 8,220.
It is the largest settlement in the Rural City of Ararat local government area and is the administrative centre.
Gold was discovered there in 1857 sparking a district gold rush, turning it into a significant Victorian gold rush boomtown. It continued to prosper until after the turn of the 20th century after which it has steadily declined in population. It was proclaimed as a city on 24 May 1950. However it continues to decline.
It is named after Mount Ararat 10 kilometres south west of the town which was named by Horatio Wills in 1841.
