Ararat is a city in south-west Victoria, Australia,
about 198 kilometres (120 mi) west of Melbourne,
on the Western Highway on the eastern slopes of
the Ararat Hills and Cemetery Creek valley
between Victoria's Western District and the
Wimmera. The urban population of Ararat
according to the Council's Website is 8,076 and
services the region of 11,752 residents across the
Rural City's boundaries
Ararat's economy is driven by primary industries of
the region including wool, beef and the
Grampians Wine Region. The Ararat region has a
number of wind farms including the Challicum
Hills Wind Farm produce large amounts of
renewable energy to the National Electricity
Market.