The Shire of Ararat was a local government area about 200 kilometres (124 mi) west-northwest of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia.

The shire covered an area of 3,657.06 square kilometres (1,412.0 sq mi), and existed from 1861 until 1994.

The shire did not cover the town of Ararat, which was managed by a separate local government authority.

Ararat was first incorporated as a road district on 27 August 1861, and became a shire on 8 March 1864.

[3] The Shire of Ararat was divided into four ridings, each of which elected three councillors: * Estimate in the 1958 Victorian Year Book.