Ararat Rural City is a versatile primary production area famous for its premium viticulture and wine industry, quality merino wool, and cropping and manufacturing industries.
Ararat Rural City forms a 'gateway' to important tourism destinations such as the Grampians Ranges, Pyrenees Ranges, Mt Langi Ghiran, Mt Cole and Lake Bolac. Ararat (pop. 7,500) is the district retail hub.
Ararat is located 200 kilometres west of Melbourne on the Western Highway at the junction of several major highways.
Ararat is part of the Small Shire council grouping and can be compared with similar councils. More information on council groupings can be found here.
Ararat - Victoria in Future 2016
Ararat Aboriginal Community Profile (includes Aboriginal organisations)
Ararat, Armstrong, Ballyrogan, Bayindeen, Black Range, Bornes Hill, Buangor, Carranballac, Cathcart, Chatsworth, Crowlands, Denicull Creek, Dobie, Dunkeld, Dunneworthy, Elmhurst, Eversley, Glenlogie, Glenthompson, Great Western, Halls Gap, Lake Bolac, Langi Logan, Mafeking, Maroona, Middle Creek, Mininera, Mount Cole, Mount Cole Creek, Moyston, Narrapumelap South, Nerrin Nerrin, Norval, Pomonal, Pura Pura, Rhymney, Rocky Point, Rossbridge, Stavely, Stoneleigh, Streatham, Tatyoon, Warrak, Westmere, Wickliffe, Willaura, Woorndoo and Yalla-Y-Poora.
For a detailed map showing shire boundaries and locality names, visit VICNAMES.
Ararat Rural City Council Local Government Community Satisfaction Survey Results
Ararat Rural City Council is an unsubdivided municipality consisting of 7 councillors.
Councillors are elected through proportional representation voting. Since 2008, all Victorian councillors serve a four year term. The next general election is October 2020.
The council's next independent Electoral Representation Review is scheduled to be conducted prior to the 2016 elections.
Visit the Guide for more information on Council Elections.
Visit the Victorian Electoral Commission for more elections details.
7 Councillors elected in October 2016.
Unsubdivided - Cr Gwenda Allgood
Unsubdivided - Cr Bill Braithwaite
Unsubdivided - Cr Fay Hull
Unsubdivided - Cr Jo Armstrong - Deputy Mayor
Unsubdivided - Cr Peter Beales - Mayor
Unsubdivided - Cr Frank Deutsch
Unsubdivided - Cr David Pettman
Estimated resident population. Source: Victoria in Future 2016 - Population and Household Projections to 2031
Source: Victoria Grants Commission.
The figures in the bottom two rows of the table show combined one-off and ongoing funding received by council from both the Federal and State Governments. It is important to note that this amount can change significantly from year to year as individual government funding programs change and natural events such as fires and floods occur.
Data shows the amount allocated in respect of the relevant financial year. In some years, that amount will vary from the payments received that year, as a result of the Commonwealth "bringing forward" some payments.
| 2016-17 | 2015-16 | 2014-15 | 2013-14 | 2012-13 | 2011-12 | 2010-11 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recurrent Expenditure ($) | 28.205m | 26.441m | 25.922m | 23.222m | 26.932m | 31.545m | 22.457m | 20.288m |
| Recurrent Revenue ($) | 32.853m | 26.343m | 29.904m | 24.055m | 28.769m | 31.949m | 23.953m | 19.937m |
| - Rates and Charges | 15.908m | 15.266m | 14.572m | 13.799m | 12.946m | 11.836m | 11.059m | 10.542m |
| - VGC Grants | 5.580m | 5.454m | 5.307m | 5.263m | 5.210m | 5.124m | 4.948m | 4.605m |
| Non-Recurrent Government Grants |
3.818m |
1.703m |
2.616m |
3.571m |
6.480m |
9.201m |
3.896m |
1.056m |
| Recurrent Government Grants |
10.624m |
6.903m |
2.097m |
2.091m |
2.098m |
1.999m |
1.854m |
1.858m |
View Ararat Rural City's performance across a wide range of service areas
View Performance