Out and About Victoria Grampians & Wimmera Facts & Figures

Population: Three major towns are ​ ​Horsham 16,500; Ararat 11,100; Stawell 6150.​ ​
The Grampians has a population of about 92,742; the Wimmera region has a population of about 55,000.
Main towns: Horsham, Ararat, Stawell, Hamilton, Halls Gap, Warracknabeal
Key industries: Agriculture, tourism, mining, renewable energy (windfarms)
Geography:The Grampians features striking sandstone mountains while the Wimmera is generally plains, with the Wimmera River its main feature.
Climate: The ​Grampians and ​Wimmera have four distinct seasons, with hot dry summers and cool winters.
Best time to visit: Easter for the Stawell Gift; ​spring for wildflowers in the national parks
Fascinating facts:

• The regions are famous for their numerous sites of natural significance including the Grampians National Park, Little Desert National Park, Pink Lake and MacKenzie Falls among others.
• Mount Arapiles, 47km west of Horsham, is a world renowned rock climbing spot.
• Halls Gap has its own zoo, the Brambuk National Park and cultural centre, the Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre and regular tours of the J-Ward heritage prison and Aradale, a former asylum.
• Stawell is the home of the Stawell Gift, Australia’s richest footrace run during the Easter long weekend.
• Horsham’s renovated Town Hall, reopened in January 2016, features a 500 ​-seat theatre and art gallery.
• AFL’s Adam Goodes and television personality Portia de Rossi grew up in the Horsham area.
• Musician Nick Cave was born at Warracknabeal.