Well-earned rest comes to Sacred Rock - 30th October 2019

Uluru has closed to climbers. After years of campaigning, the Anangu celebrated the moment with Australian parliament members.

On Friday evening, the last tourists descended Uluru. The sacred rock can now have a "well-earned rest". Recently, numbers of climbers rose as the deadline approached. They ignored signs saying, "Please don't climb", which explained Anangu beliefs and the dangers of climbing.

Safety is another reason for the rock's closure. There have been 37 climbing-related deaths and large numbers of injuries since the 1950s. The environmental effects of litter and toilet waste left on Uluru, polluting waterholes, will also stop.

An official ceremony on Sunday celebrated the event with traditional dancing, music and speeches. The Australian

Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has been criticised for not attending.

Although there was a recent increase in climbers, this contrasts with the rising numbers of tourists choosing to respect Uluru and stay off. Just 16 per cent of visitors climbed in 2017. This caused the decision to close Uluru, meeting conditions agreed by the national park board years before.

This sacred place is the site of Anangu creation stories. It now also carries the recent damage caused by the climbing route.

The Anangu celebrated getting back control of the park in 1985. Finally, 34 years later, they have stopped people climbing the rock. One man has been telling tourists since he was a boy, "We don't want you to climb the rock."

Now Uluru is closed, the Anangu, who feel strongly connected to their environment, can 'feel' rested.