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.

	2012-13	2011-12	2010-11	2009-10
Expenditure ($)	26.932m	31.545m	22.457m	20.288m
Revenue ($)	28.769m	31.949m	23.953m	19.937m
- Charges ($)	12.946m	11.836m	11.059m	10.542m
- VGC Grants ($)	5.210m	5.124m	4.948m	4.605m