Hundreds at Uluru

Uluru opened to hundreds of climbers three hours late, on the final day before a permanent ban comes into force. Hundreds of people had started lining up from 4am yesterday to climb the 348-metre high landmark. But at 7am, when the rock climb usually opens, rangers put up a sign declaring it was closed. This was in line with regulations requiring the climb to be closed when strong heat, wind or rain occurs, following numerous deaths at the rock in the past. The wind threshold is 25-30kmh. The climb opened three hours later at 10am by Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park operators. Hundreds of visitors quickly began moving towards the rock face to make the climb. A local traditional owner, Vincent Forrester, booed at the crowd. After the last climber came down yesterday, workers were to immediately start removing all evidence climbing was ever allowed on the red sandstone rock, which is arguably Australia’s most famous landmark. The chain handhold, built in 1964 and later extended, that enables visitors to get up and down the sheer western face of what used to be known as Ayers Rock, will also be removed. The National Park board decided in 2017 to ban the climb from today, which marks 35 years since the land title to the Anangu was given back on October 26, 1985. Uluru is a sacred site and of great spiritual significance to local Aboriginal groups, including the Pitjantjatjara Anangu traditional owners who live in nearby Mutitjulu. The Anangu people will celebrate with a ceremony at the rock on Sunday night.