Ararat, Vic

Day 5 Tuesday 23/12/2025 Ararat, sunny 10 – 20

Woody does the grocery shopping early before the crowds, then we set off for the Gramps at about 10:30.

The tourist town of Halls Gap is in The Grampians / Gariwerd National Park only 40kms south of Ararat. The drive is pleasant with panoramic views of the mountains. The area is a patchwork of paddocks that have just been cut for hay. Hay cutting is a sign of Christmas in our part of the world and it’s not unusual to see a few round bales wearing Santa’s clothes. Getting back to the story there are vineyards, and holiday rentals with idyllic names, and emus strutting through the yellow paddocks. Evidence still exists of the recent bushfires that came through here. Blackened trunks with bright green new growth and swathes of the mountain sides are bare and rocky.

Halls Gap is the only town in the National Park and today it’s busy with ice cream licking tourists and dogs on leads checking out other dogs on leads. The peaks above the town form a dramatic backdrop and as I look up to The Pinnacle, I find it hard to believe that I once climbed that beast.

Today’s plan is a round trip, so it’s off to Stawell to find some lunch. Stawell is home to the annual Easter footrace, the Stawell Gift. We get a pleasant surprise, the town is bright and colourful with lots of flower beds and trees along the main street, some interesting sketchable buildings and excellent murals. We chat with a chap on the street who tells us where to find more murals, before ducking into a nearby café for a toastie.

And this one that shows the main street in early days

Gosh the Western Highway is busy as we head back to Ararat, it looks like they’re all headed to Adelaide for the holidays. I drop Woody off at the caravan and scoot off for a bit of snapping. I like to make posters of the towns we visit using my sketches, and this town holds plenty of interest. The old hospital building is a work of art in itself. Built in 1860 in the Queen Anne style and topped with an elegant tower it is known as Pyrenees House. It’s going to give me grief to draw that one. Across the road from the hospital complex is Alexandra Park. On the lawns, people are sprawled in the sun soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. There are ducks on the lake and ibis puttering about. It an old-style park with garden beds bordered in bluestone, even a grotto and waterfall.

The Aradale Mental Asylum or what is left of it, is playing on my mind and a couple on our jail tour said that it is possible to walk around it. And they seemed to be ghoulish experts having spent the previous night in Melbourne’s Pentridge jail.

After much backpedalling around the perimeter of the property, which must cover several square kilometres, I can only see glimpses of the tops of the crenelated towers of the main building. Everything about this place is on a grand scale and the buildings are numerous. I do find a row of Victorian era homes that must have housed senior staff. It is such a shame to see them empty and uncared for. A row of more recent houses are occupied and a university is operating a vineyard here as well. Thwarted for today, I give up searching, it’s time for dinner.

The Mess and Barracks. The Ararat RSL (Returned Soldiers League) made a smart move in buying a small hotel when it came up for sale. They turned the front section into a restaurant, The Mess, and the rest into The Barracks, accommodation for ex-servicemen and women, members and visitors. It is an excellent venue with a good vibe, the duck and mushroom pasta was divine, so too the tiramisu and pecan tart.

Thanks to Glenys Gelzinis over at Caravancorrespondent.com for recommending the Mess and Barracks which prompted us to choose Ararat for this Christmas get away.

Accom: $38.00. Phew that was a busy post.