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For further tourist information about the Grampians region of Victoria
ARARAT
Ararat,
to
the
east,
is
the
commercial
centre
of
a
prosperous
wine
growing
and
farming
region.
A
former
gold
mining
town,
Ararat
is
home
to
many
historical
buildings
including
an
impressive
bluestone
Post
Office,
Town
Hall,
Civic
Square
and
War
Memorial.
The
notorious
J
Ward
which
housed
the
criminally
insane
for
over
100
years
is
a
grim
relic
of
the
past,
and
open
to
the
public.
Ararat's
picturesque
Alexandra
Gardens
are
renowned
for
their
orchid
glasshouses.
HALLS
GAP
In
1841,
when
the
early
squatter
CB
Hall
followed
the
path
made
by
the
Koorie
people
into
the
gap,
he
had
no
idea
where
it
would
lead.
Today,
nestled
between
the
Mount
Difficult
and
Mount
William
Ranges,
Halls
Gap
is
the
bustling
village
named
after
him.
There
are
shops
and
restaurants,
places
to
camp
and
motels
and
guest
houses
in
which
to
stay.
High
in
the
trees
around
this
friendly,
relaxed
township,
koalas
can
still
be
found
sleeping
in
the
forks
of
the
manna
gums.
And
their
grunts
are
a
telltale
sign
of
their
presence
in
trees
along
some
walking
tracks.
This
can
be
followed
by
a
visit
to
the
Brambuk
Living
Cultural
Centre,
just
two
kilometres
from
Halls
Gap.
The
Centre
brings
to
life
the
rich
history
and
culture
of
the
Koorie
communities
of
the
Wimmera
and
south
west
Victoria.
HAMILTON
Built
on
lava
flows
which
date
back
some
4.5
million
years,
Hamilton
is
the
wool
capital
of
the
world.
One
of
the
biggest
attractions
is
the
Big
Wool-bales
which
houses
a
comprehensive
history
of
the
district's
wool
producing
heritage.
Many
of
the
city's
grand
buildings
and
fine
homes
are
a
direct
result
of
the
wealth
and
prosperity
of
the
wool
industry.
Within
an
easy
drive
of
Hamilton
are
the
extinct
volcanoes
of
Mt
Eccles,
Mt
Napier
and
Mt
Rouse.
Their
landscape
is
awe
inspiring,
as
are
the
myriad
of
caves
and
lava
blisters
in
the
area.
Hamilton
also
has
one
of
Victoria's
best
regional
galleries
and
the
Botanic
Gardens
are
a
nature
lover's
delight.
Sir
Reginald
Ansett,
Australia's
commercial
aviation
pioneer,
lived
in
Hamilton.
Today,
you
can
step
inside
his
relocated
company
hangar
at
the
Ansett
Transport
Museum
and
be
transported
back
to
the
earliest
days
of
commercial
flight.
At
Hamilton
you'll
find
the
only
surviving
Victorian
colony
of
the
rare
Eastern
Barred
Bandicoot
,
a
small
furry
marsupial
with
rabbit
like
ears.
HORSHAM
To
the
north
of
The
Grampians
is
Horsham,
set
on
the
banks
of
the
beautiful
Wimmera
River.
The
unofficial
capital
of
the
Wimmera,
Horsham
services
the
needs
of
the
wheat
and
livestock
farmers
of
the
region
and
offers
the
visitor
city
living,
country
style.
The
Wool
Factory
in
Horsham
produces
some
of
the
best
fine
wool
in
Australia
while
the
Regional
Art
Gallery
houses
the
magnificent
collection
which
includes
significant
works
by
Hans
Heysen,
George
Lambert
and
Charles
Bush.
For
the
sports
minded
there
are
plenty
of
activities
-
bushwalking,
rockclimbing,
abseiling,
orienteering,
boating,
canoeing,
hunting,
cycling,
trail
bike
riding
or
four
wheel
driving.
The
nearby
lakes
and
waterways
are
perfect
for
fishing
and
even
if
you're
not
having
much
luck
you
can
still
enjoy
distant
views
of
The
Grampians.
West
from
Horsham
is
Mount
Arapiles
where
climbers
from
around
the
world
pit
their
skills
against
the
thousands
of
climbs
available.
For
the
ultimate
scenic
view
of
Horsham
why
not
go
up
in
a
hot
air
balloon
or
on
a
glider
flight?
STAWELL
Stawell
was
founded
on
gold
in
1853
when
William
McLachlan,
a
shepherd
on
Dr.
John
Blundell's
station
found
gold
there.
Gold
mining
ceased
in
1920
when
the
Union
Quartz
Mining
Company
closed.
However
in
1984
the
Stawell
Joint
Venture
re-opened
the
mines
around
Stawell
and
are
part
of
Australian
Goldmines.
You
can
visit
the
mines
and
view
the
massive
trucks
and
excavators.
The
town
is
noted
for
the
Stawell
Easter
Gift
foot
race,
the
richest
event
of
its
kind
in
the
world.
The
first
meeting
was
in
1877.
At
the
Hall
of
Fame
Museum
you
can
see
the
photographs,
memorabilia
and
equipment
which
highlight
the
history
of
this
famous
sports
meeting.
Just
south
of
Stawell
is
Bunjil's
Shelter,
one
of
Victoria's
most
important
Koorie
art
sites.
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