Uluru climb: Permanent Closure — 26 October 2019

UPDATE: Four pm was the official cut-off. But at 7pm there were still half a dozen people up there, with a battle of egos, and even a reported ‘cat fight’ to, decide who would be the last climber off Uluru. Even the though the gate had been shut and signage changed to read ‘Permanent Closure — 26 October 2019.’

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FOUR pm may have been the official cut-off but climbers still remained on Uluru as the gate was shut and signage changed to read ‘Permanent Closure — 26 October 2019.’

A helicopter could be seen assessing the summit at 6.30pm, with at least half a dozen tourists still on Uluru at 7pm, including a man in a Superman t-shirt, James Martin, who onlookers said had been quite vocal in his desire to be the last man off the Rock.

Father and son Scott and Nicholas Leonard climbed the rock together: Picture: EMMA MURRAY

The official closure was met with cheers and applause from the 200-plus strong crowd as traditional owners, Indigenous elders and international and local tourists alike marked the historic event.

Climbing the Rock for the first time, 21-year-old Nicholas Leonard said it was a “once in a lifetime experience,” and something he felt he needed to conquer.

“It’s a big rock in the middle of nowhere and I thought it would be pretty cool to climb it,” Nicholas said.

Scott, 52,who first climbed the Rock at 12-years-old, expressed concern that the closure of the sacred site would mean future generations “missed out.”

Four-year-old Enrick visited the rock with his family from Imanpa. Picture: EMMA MURRAY

“I just have a different opinion I suppose from most,” he said.

“I would say the damage that’s been done by the so called white person climbing the rock is minimal.

“I know it affects the Dreamtime of the Aboriginal people but there is always an injustice somewhere.”

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“My son’s generation are going to miss out on a lot of places to see and it is just awe inspiring once you get up Uluru.”

“If the Dreamtime doesn’t want us to climb it then it will remain shut.”

Traditional Indigenous owner Minja Reid Uluru travelled from Port Augusta to mark the closure and pay respects to her Uncle and the spiritual country of her ancestors.

Minja Jean Reid Uluru, Reggie Uluru, Cassidy Uluru, and Barbara Tjikadu after the final close of the walk. Picture: EMMA MURRAY

Speaking to the NT News through tears, Ms Reid Uluru said she was happy the climb was closing, not only because of its sacred status, but because it would ally concerns Indigenous Australians had around the safety of the climb.

“I’m happy that it’s closing. It makes me feel no good when I look at the people. I hurt inside,” Ms Reid Uluru said.

Accompanied by daughters Jennifer and Nancy and granddaughter Bonnie, Ms Reid Uluru said the closure would bring a sense of peace and finality to this chapter in Australia’s history.

“My Uncle will have peace now,” she said.

Please come to Uluru, but we want to be involved: traditional owner

Ella Jackson, 19, from Melbourne chose not to climb, saying it was not her decision to make, but that of the Indigenous elders.

“We’ve got to respect those around us,” she said.

“I think the analogy that I felt really powerfully summed it up is the disrespect we would feel if someone climbed over an Anzac memorial and that Anzac Day is so sacred to Australians, why can we not see and conceptualise this sight as sacred as well?”

She said it made her angry Australians did not hold themselves to the same standards when it came to Uluru.

Gallery of the last days of the Uluru climb

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“To be here and climbing at this point, on this day, it’s not about a lack of information,” she said.

“I think it’s blatantly racist. It’s an underlying belief that you’re entitled and you deserve to conquer the Rock.

“It’s a colonial mindset that the climber has to be on top of the Rock.”

“It’s really disappointing to see the numbers and the young ages of the people climbing.”

“Are they going to look back on the pictures of them at the rock and think they did the right thing?”

Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Ranger, Gregory Elliot, said that although he felt there would be a slight drop in tourism, the closure of the climb was necessary for safety reasons.

“I think it’s a bit of a loss, but I’m happy that it’s closing now because of the safety,” he said.

James Martin was one of the last people to step off Uluru on Friday

Mr Elliott said some days had been really busy with up to 1,200 people waiting to go up.

Despite October 25th marking the last permitted climbing day, strong wins prevented anyone accessing the Rock until 10am.

“In the 50s and 60s the path still had traction to it, but now it’s not dissimilar to rough sandpaper,” Mr Elliot said.

“I’ve spoken to a Japanese tour guide and there bookings have gone right down.”

“They arrive in bus loads and love to climb.”

“The Chinese are similar, other than that we have some people that come and chat to us and say ‘I don’t know why these people have to climb.’”

Some of the last people to ever climb Uluru on the final day it is allowed: Picture: EMMA MURRAY

Conducting two climb rescues in the past three weeks, one involving a 72-year-old Japanese tourist, Mr Elliot said he’d also recently found faeces at the top of the Rock, with people urinating at the summit not uncommon.

The climbing chain will be removed from Uluru mid-to-late next week.

Hundreds of Anangu from remote communities in the cross-border region of the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia will gather near Uluru at sunset on Sunday, October 27, to celebrate the climbing chain coming off the rock.

The Uluru family inundated at the climb’s closure. Picture: EMMA MURRAY

ULURU HISTORY

Aboriginal people have lived in the area around Uluru and Kata Tjuta for at least 30,000 years.

For Anangu, their culture has always existed here.

The Central Australian landscape (of which Uluru and Kata Tjuta are an important part) is believed to have been created at the beginning of time by ancestral beings.

On 19 July, 1873, the surveyor William Gosse sighted the landmark and named it Ayers Rock in honour of the then Chief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers.

In 1993, a dual naming policy was adopted that allowed official names that consist of both the traditional Aboriginal name and the English name.