Uluru holds a special place in most Aussie’s hearts, but for Indigenous Australians it’s sacred.
The History of Uluru
Uluru is estimated to be 600 million years old and human settlement began around 10,000 years ago. It has always played a large role within the Indigenous communities surrounding it and the first recorded climb was in 1873 by an Englishman. Essentially since then it has been a tourist attraction and the traditional owner’s of the land asked for it not to be climbed. So, why is it up for debate? Well, there are a number of reasons, the main one being that it is a very popular (and therefore lucrative) tourist attraction in the Northern Territory. Uluru has around 300,00 visitors per year and of those visitors around 1/3 decide to climb, the local Aṉangu people do not climb on the rock as they consider it sacred. It’s a place for them to lay their ancestors to rest and has a lot of ties to dreamtime. Uluru has long been a point of contention between the Australian government and the Traditional Owner’s of the land. In the 1980’s it was finally given back to the Indigenous Australians and subsequently leased to the National Parks and Wildlife for a term of 99 years and would be jointly managed.
Fast Facts:
– Uluru was named “Ayers Rock” by William Gosse who gave it its title after Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief Secretary of South Australia.
– It’s tallest point is 348 metres above sea level but actually stretches more than 2 km underground
– The first recorded death was in 1951, since climbing began 37 people have perished, mainly from heat stroke and cardiac arrest
– Uluru was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987
Should Climbing Uluru Be Banned?
It’s the question on everyone’s lips, should climbing Uluru be banned? Well, it depends who you ask. Recently, Senator Pauline Hanson back flipped on her demand that Uluru stay open for climbing when she herself, struggled to make it up the rock. For the traditional owners, the ban is a long time coming. Since the 1980’s they have asked visitors to not climb Uluru out of respect for the local communities. Instead they ask tourists to walk around the monolith, take tours with local guides and visit other areas in the National Park.
What are your thoughts on the topic LiveTribers?
3 Comments
My ancestors walked this land for thousands of years they walked with pride looked after the land better then it is now. They didn’t abuse it or drain it for everything they could.they only used what they needed they wasn’t greedy they only stayed at one place for a short time and then they move on before they leave they back burn the place so the they kill over growing weeds and shit so the grass can grow back greener Ulura was one of their places we haven’t got much left our culture is dying out no false of our own with the little bit we got left don’t climb the Mother of all Rocks
Respect the indigenous people & their culture & do not climb. There are lots of other options eg plane, helicopter activities to get the same view.
Respect and Appreciation is called for in this situation.Its a place of Beauty,History and the Ancestors of the Indigenous people.Its their home,their culture ,their sacred place.
Do not climb Uluru,respect it.