ARARAT, a municipal town in Ripon county (Western dis trict) in about the S.W. centre of Victoria (Australia). It is situ ated towards the western end of the western Victorian highlands and is flanked on the south and east by a range of hills, the Pyre nees. The "mountains" in this area are worn-down plateau-like remnants of very early formations composed of rocks of granitic character. But in addition extensive lava-flows (basalt) have occurred and the soils derived from these are very fertile. Ararat, therefore, standing at about I,o3oft. above sea-level, and having a fairly regular rainfall of 23-24in. (mean annual) is the centre of a flourishing agricultural and pastoral area (wheat, vines, sheep, etc.). Gold mining (reef as well as alluvial gold from "deep leads"), besides quarrying, is carried on in the vicinity, and the excellent timber resources of the area have been exploited.
Ararat is a railway junction of local importance. It is situated on the main overland (Adelaide-Melbourne) line, about 13om. from Melbourne. The lines of the South-western system (Caster ton, Hamilton) take off from here, and Portland and Warrnam bool are rising ports of this area. Ararat's population has in creased steadily from 3,58o in 1901 to 4,6S3 in 1921