The Rural City of Ararat is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, located in the western part of the state.

It covers an area of 4,211 square kilometres (1,626 sq mi) and in the 2021 had a population of 11,880.

[4] It includes the towns of Ararat, Armstrong, Dunneworthy, Lake Bolac, Moyston, Pomonal, Streatham, Tatyoon, Wickliffe and Willaura.

[1][5] The Rural City is governed and administered by the Ararat Rural City Council; its seat of local government and administrative centre is located at the council headquarters in Ararat.

[7] The council is composed of seven councillors elected to represent an unsubdivided municipality.