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

Uluru has closed to climbers after years of campaigning by indigenous people. Traditional owners, the Anangu, celebrated the end of climbing at Uluru with Australian parliament members.

On Friday evening, the last tourists descended from the sacred rock, which can now have a "well-earned rest". Recently, the number of climbers had risen sharply as the deadline approached, despite longstanding signs saying, "Please don't climb". They explained Anangu beliefs and highlighted the dangers of climbing.

Safety is another reason for the rock's permanent closure. There have been 37 climbing-related deaths and countless injuries since the 1950s. Rangers quickly removed the metal chain that had helped people climb. The environmental impact of litter and human 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.

The recent increase in climbers contrasted with rising numbers of tourists choosing to respect Anangu beliefs and stay off Uluru. Just 16 per cent of visitors climbed in 2017. This triggered the decision to close Uluru, meeting conditions agreed by the national park board years beforehand.

For the indigenous Anangu, it marks the end of a decades-long attempt to regain control of Uluru. This sacred place, site of Anangu creation stories, also carries a recent scar from the now-historic climbing route.

The Anangu celebrated regaining control of the park in 1985. Now, after a 34-year campaign, a traditional law, Tjukurrpa, has been reintroduced to stop people climbing the rock. One man had been telling tourists, since he was a boy "We don't want you to climb the rock," but many showed no respect for Tjukurrpa.

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