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Ararat - Cities, Towns and Localities |
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Ararat
is the eastern gateway
to the magnificent Grampians (Gariwerd) National
Park. To the north are the rugged Pyrenees Ranges and picturesque Elmhurst,
whilst to the east lies Buangor with its historic Cobb & Co coach-house, and
close to the scenic Mount Langi Ghiran and Mount Cole. Strategically located
on the Western Highway, just 200 km north west of Melbourne, Ararat is the hub
of western Victoria, with rail and road links to Geelong, Portland, as well as
western and north western Victoria. There is also an aerodrome.
Ararat is the only town in Australia to be founded by the
Chinese. Rich in colonial history with a wide variety of
activities and attractions to choose from including the famous J Ward
asylum for the criminally insane, now a working museum, to a pleasant
stroll through the Alexandra Gardens, a botanical garden which features
a walk-through fernery, Orchid House, lake and Japanese Island.
The area is also well known for the magnificent wines produced along
the Pyrenees wine trail.
For Ararat accommodation
click here. For
up-to-date accommodation, attraction, tours and other information visit
the tourist centre. |
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Alexandra Park Gardens and Lake
Vincent St, ARARAT VIC 3377
Offering
visitors the enjoyment of magnificent gardens with tree-lined walks, flowerbeds,
and terraced lawns that slope to an ornamental lake. There are historic
fountains, the walk-in fernery, Orchid Glasshouse and a Japanese Island.
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Ararat Public Cemetery
Nott Rd, ARARAT VIC 3377
Ararat Cemetery Trust Ph: 03 5352 1313 (AH)
The cemetery offers a
fascinating insight into our history. It is a guide for genealogists searching
Ararat and the surrounding district. For further research you can contact:
The Ararat Genealogical Society Inc PO Box 361, ARARAT VIC 3377 Ph: 03 5352
4418 or 035352 1963 (AH)
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Ararat Railway Heritage Association Museum
91 High St, ARARAT VIC 3377
Offering a fascinating collection of railway history, memorabilia and working
model train display. The display is a reminder of the importance of the railways
to Ararat and the local district.
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 Gum
San Chinese Heritage Centre
31 Lambert St, Western Hwy, ARARAT VIC 3377
Ph:
03 5352 1078 Fax: 03 5352 4906
On a Sunday morning in May, 1857, about 700 Chinese miners from Southern China,
travelling overland from the Port of Robe, South Australia, to the Clunes
Goldfields in the Colony of Victoria, rested at a place at the foothills of the
Great Dividing Range, some 400 kms due east of Robe. As they were replenishing
their water supplies at a spring, they discovered by chance the Canton Lead, the
worlds richest shallow alluvial goldfield that stretched five kms in length.
This marked the beginning of the Ararat Goldfield.The Gum San Chinese
Heritage Centre is an authentic re-creation of a two storey Chinese architecture
set in traditional Chinese gardens and forecourt. The centre takes you through
the arduous journey from China of the Chinese founders of Ararat. A tour of the
centre is a celebratory and educational experience presenting the role and
influence of the Chinese Community in founding Ararat the regions goldfields.
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Langi Morgala Museum Ararat & District Historical
Society Inc
48 Queen St, ARARAT VIC 3377
Ph: 03 5352 4858 / 03 5352 3502
Freecall: 1800 657 158
Open Sat-Sun 1 pm - 4 pm (or by appointment)
The name of the
museum, Langi Morgala, is derived from two Aboriginal words: Langi meaning home
and Morgala yesterday, thus the home of yesterday.
The building was built for Michael Byrne Carroll in 1874, the architect being
Alexander White, the first engineer of the Ararat Shire.
The museum provides a documented and photographic look at how Australia,
especially Ararat and District, arose to where it is toady. On display are
period costumes, photographic displays, horse drawn vehicles, mechanical
equipment, railway memorabilia, with specific display on the Chinese and gold
mining in the district. Noticeable throughout the museum exhibitions is the
hardships and lifestyle that the women had to endure during this period of our
nations history.
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J-Ward
Ararat County Gaol, Girdlestone St, ARARAT VIC 3377
This was
the asylum for the criminally insane, closed in 1991. A tour of the gaol, is a
visit into a fascinating relic of Ararats past. There are daily guided tours of
the museum, where you can hear about the chilling details of the prisoners and
their crimes.
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McDonald Park Wildflower Reserve
Western Hwy
Located 5 kms north of
Ararat is this 61 hectare reserve of native flora and fauna. With plants
indigenous to the area, there are eucalypts, wattles and banksias that line the
tracks to the picnic area on Bridal Hill. There are still vestiges of the gold
digging days of the 1850s, with shallow workings dotting the park, including
some circular shafts dug by the Chinese. Close to Bridal Hill is the old Tub and
Cradle Dam. Mystery Dam, constructed by miners to provide water to sluice gravel
for gold, is on the northern boundary of the Park.
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Lake Bolac
Located in the fertile Western District
plains, just south of Ararat, Lake Bolac is a popular fishing and boating venue.
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Mount Cole State Park
Just 20 km east of Ararat, is
this popular area for nature lovers, rock climbing and hang gliding. There are
camping grounds with basic facilities.
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Victoria Events |
Cymbidium Orchid Festival
Ph: 03 9808 1660 September
Largest display of cymbidium orchids in
Australia. This festival incorporates the Australian National Cymbidium Show.
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Golden Gateway Festival
October
A major social event held over ten days. A jam packed festival of
jugglers to magicians, a popular street procession, and the Festival Quest Ball
and Coronation Ceremony.
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Jailhouse Rock Festival
Ph: 03 5352 4244 March
An annual festival that celebrates a bygone era.
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One Act Play Festival
August
Ararat Victorian State Championship of One Act Play Festival is held on
the first weekend of August.
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Golden
Gateway Festival
October
A major social event held over ten
days. A jam packed festival of jugglers to magicians, a popular street
procession, and the Festival Quest Ball and Coronation Ceremony.
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Grampians Soaring
Club
Ararat Airfield (PO Box 468), ARARAT VIC 3377
Ph: 03 5352 4240 (AF)
Mobile: 0428 558 746 (AH)
We invite you to join us in this most uplifiting of
sports. Glider pilots most certain the quiet achievers.
Gliding explained
Gliders can be built with either one or two seats. All training is done in two
seat gliders. Once they area launched, (either by a tow plane or by winch),
glider pilots rely on the forces of nature that produce lift to sustain their
flight. If lift is not found, the glider will slowly descend to earth and land:
typically modern gliders can advance about 30 km for the loss of 1 km in height.
There are 3 main sources of lift: Ridge Lift and Lee Waves, which are
both produced by the wind blowing against/over a ridge or mountain range which
causes the air to rise and Thermals, which are rising columns of air produced
when the sun heats the earth. Glider pilots are taught to seek out and exploit
these rising air masses.
After the excitement and joy of your first flight, you may decide that this
sport is for you. Annual or short term memberships are available. Most clubs
provide free instruction on weekends and public holidays. You pay for the launch
and glider time. The first goal (of many) is to fly solo. Once you have achieved
this milestone, the real fun begins and you can really experience what this
sport has to offer.
Gliding Clubs of the Victorian Soaring Association (VSA)
There are VSA clubs all over Victoria, Tasmania and NSW regions. There are 24
clubs in the VSA and 89 nationally. Details can be found at:
www.gfa.org.au/clubs.
VSA clubs are located in Ararat, Bacchus Marsh, Benalla, Bendigo, Bothwell,
Corowa, Derrinallum, Horsham, Leongatha, Locksley, Mildura, Morwell,
Mount Beauty, Mount Direction, Sale, Swan Hill, Tocumwal, Tumbarumba, Wagga
Wagga, Woodbury.
Want to know more?
www.soaring.org.au and
www.gfa.org.au/vsa
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 Ararat
Online
Comprehensive local website with current news, travel
info, events calendar and more.
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