The History

The Anangu Aboriginal people believe Central Australia to have been created at the beginning of time. The Anangu Aboriginal people are responsible for the protection and appropriate management of these ancestral lands. The knowledge necessary to fulfil these responsibilities has been passed down from generation to generation.

During the 1870s, William Giles and William Gosse were the first white explorers to this region and they Giles named The Olgas, after the then reigning Queen Olga of Wurttemburg, because he reached it first. Gosse made it to Uluru first and he named it Ayers Rock after his superior, Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief Secretary of South Australia.

In the early 1900s the Government declared ownership of the land around the rock and by the 1950s tourists and miners had begun to make tracks to Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta. At the time only a few Anangu were living at Ayers Rock. However, as tourist numbers grew, most of the Anangu there scattered into other regions within Central Australia.

By the early 1970s, the pressure of tourism was having detrimental effects on the environment and the government agreed in 1973 to relocate accommodation facilities to a new site.

It was not until 1979 that, in recognition of the existence of traditional Aboriginal owners of Ayers Rock, a national park was acknowledged. In 1983 Prime Minister Hawke announced the government’s intention to grant ownership of the land back to the traditional owners. The agreement, however, required the traditional owners to lease the park to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for a period of 99 years.

Climbing Ayers Rock

Aboriginal traditional owners would prefer visitors to not climb Uluru, but you are still legally allowed to. It is a strenuous walk to the top, but well worth it if you’re game!

Sunset and sunrise over Uluru is a life changing experience, with the colours at both sites becoming more vibrant and even changing.

The History

The Anangu Aboriginal people believe Central Australia to have been created at the beginning of time. The Anangu Aboriginal people are responsible for the protection and appropriate management of these ancestral lands. The knowledge necessary to fulfil these responsibilities has been passed down from generation to generation.

During the 1870s, William Giles and William Gosse were the first white explorers to this region. Giles was the first to reach Kata Tjuta and named it The Olgas after the then reigning Queen Olga of Wurttemburg. Gosse, however, was the first to reach Uluru and named it Ayers Rock after his superior, Sir Henry Ayers, the Chief Secretary of South Australia.

In the early 1900s the Government declared ownership of the land and by the 1950s tourists and miners had begun to make tracks to Uluru and Kata Tjuta. At the time only a few Anangu were living at Uluru. However, as tourist numbers grew, most of the Anangu there scattered into other regions within Central Australia.

By the early 1970s, the pressure of tourism was having detrimental effects on the environment and the government agreed in 1973 to relocate accommodation facilities to a new site.

It was not until 1979 that, in recognition of the existence of traditional Aboriginal owners of Uluru, a national park was acknowledged. In 1983 Prime Minister Hawke announced the government’s intention to grant ownership of the land back to the traditional owners. The agreement, however, required the traditional owners to lease the park to the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service for a period of 99 years.

Climbing Uluru

Aboriginal traditional owners would prefer visitors to not climb Uluru, but you are still legally allowed to. It is a strenuous walk to the top, but well worth it if you’re game!

There are plenty of things to do in Tennant Creek, many about gold mining. You can visit the old Gold Stamp Battery, Peko Road, and have a guided tour around at 9.30am or 5.00pm. If you want hands on experience head to the Moonlight Rockhole along Warrego Road, where you can fossick for gold yourself. You will need a permit to do this, so head for the Department of Mines and Energy first. There are also a couple of mining tours that you can take.

There is a campsite in the Devil’s Marbles Conservation Park or pub accommodation at Wauchope. South from Devil’s Marbles is the Stuart Memorial, and Barrow Creek where another telegraph station still stands. In August the Barrow Creek Races are very popular and something you have to see.

Other attractions include visiting the National Trust Museum, one of the 12 remaining telegraph stations in Northern Territory, as well as horse riding or visiting Devil’s Marbles. Devil’s Marbles are huge boulders at the side of the road, said by Aboriginal mythology to have been put there by the Rainbow Serpent.

There is a range of accommodation in the area, from camping and hostels to hotels and motels. There are also several good places to eat out both during the day and in the evening.

A treasure trove of Aboriginal rock paintings can be seen on the rugged cliff faces of Nourlangic Rock. Aboriginals have inhabited this area for at least 25,000 years. Some of the scenes from the 1986 movie, Crocodile Dundee, were shot within the Kakadu National Park.