Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Note - Non-Aboriginal History
Parks Australia, 2009
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Non-Aboriginal History
Anangu have always been on this land now known as Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Anangu history is the stories and travels of the ancestral beings in the Tjukurpa (creation period).
Non-Aboriginal history
Much of the early European exploration of Central Australia occurred as a result of expeditions staged for other reasons and the impacts of non-Aboriginal history on Anangu life are both significant and diverse. In 1862 John McDouall Stuart complete the first return south-north crossing of Australia. He assesed the possible pastoral value of the land and paved the way for the construction of the Adelaide to Darwin Overland Telegraph Line between 1871 and 1872. William Earnest Giles first saw Kata-Tjuta in 1872 while exploring near Watarrka (Kings Canyon). He named the largest dome at Kata-Tjuta 'Mount Olga' and the surrounding range after George Gill, although he was unable to reach it due to an inability to cross the Pantu (Lake Amadeus). In 1873 on his second expedition, Giles finally reached Mount Olga but with anguish as he discovered William Gosse had been there first. In 1873, William Christie Gosse became the first visitor to reach this area, namin Uluru 'Ayers Rock' after the then CHief Secretary of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. The next major expedition to visit the region was not an exploration party but a scientific team. The Horn Expedition of 1894, financed by WA Horn, a wealthy South Australian pastoralist and businessman, was specifically designed to examine the geology, mineral resources, plant, animals and Aborigianl culture of Central Autralia. The expedition provided extraordinarily valuable knowledge of the natural history of the region however the land proved too harsh for the pastoral industry. Instead Uluru and Kata-Tjuta were included in the South West Reserve declared in 1920 as part of a larger system of reserves set aside as sanctuaries for Aboriginal people. The result was that few non-Aboriginal people visited this area until the 1940s apart form a few prospectors, missionaries and Native Welfare patrol officers. In 1928, the missionary EE Kramer, guided by 'Tiger' Tjalkalyiri, gave a Christian service south of Uluru. He was the first non-Aboriginal person the record Uluru as a sacred place: 'the most sacred spot in all the country around where natives come for their ceremonies'.
Tourism and mining
In the 1930s, gold prospector HB Lasseter claimed to have found a 'reef of gold of untold wealth', thus sparking the excited interest of many prospecting parties to come to the area in pursuit of mineral wealth. The magic and wonder as described by explorers such as Gosse and GIles ensures the inevitibale development of tourism in the area. The Walter Giles' camel visit in 1931 coul be considered as the first tourist visit to the area. In 1940, the size of the Aboriginal reserves in Central Australia was reduced to facilitate mineral exploration and between 1947 and 1950 miners and tourists made tracks to Uluru, Kata-Tjuta and beyond, allowing the development of major tourist operations. After a tour in 1950 with a party from Sydney's Knox Grammar School, Len Tuit recognised the tourism potential of Uluru and began to offer regular tourms in 1955. The earliest trips form Alice Springs to Uluru could carry 20 passengers and were rough with accomodation being a tent camp and the dining and store room was an ex-army marquee. By 1958 Tuit has constructed a galvanised shed but the supply of water remained the main concern for the venture. Tuit started by carting water from Curtin Springs then arranged for a drilling rig to be brought in, and using his bush knowledge, he struck good fresh water at a depth of 26 metres with a flow of 84 gallons (380litres) per hour. The Cotterill family were responsible for establishing the first track into Kings Canyon providing access to the area and alloed them to operate the newly established Kings Canyon Tours company. Jack Cotterill then turned his attention to Uluru and was the founder of the first fly in, fly our tours partnership with Connellan Airways. The first lodge was built at Uluru in 1958 by Alice Springs Tours Ltd, and was a corrugated iron building with a dining room, six bedrooms, two bathrooms and a human thermometer operated hot water service.
Land rights
The Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) 1976 and the formation of the interim Central Land Council in 1974 gave Anangu a powerful voice to protect sacred sites and an oppourtunity to regain control of the land. As a result of the 1979 Katiti Land Claim, Commissioner Justice Toohey accepted that 104 traditional owners had been formally identified for Uluru and 57 for Kata Tjuta. Anangu were given title to the Katit Land Trust north and east of the park. However they were unable to claim Uluru and Kata-Tjuta, as it was crown land alienated as a national park. In 1977, Uluru (Ayers Rock - Mt Olga) National Park was declared under the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975 and an agreement was made between the COmmonwealth and the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory to manage the park. Finally in 1983, Prime Minister Hawke promised the return of the land to the traditional owners under the Land Rights Act. On 26 OCtober 1985, Govenor-General Sir Ninian Stephens presented Anangu with the title deeds to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. In return, Anangu leased the lands to the then Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service (now Parks Australia) for a period of 99 years.
Timeline
1872 |
Ernest Giles sighted Mt Olga from near Kings Canyon |
1873 |
Gosse is the first European to visit Uluru. |
1920 |
The Peterman Ranges, Ayers Rock and the Olgas are gazetted as Aboriginal Reserve. |
1930's |
Anangu become involved in dingo scalping and are introduced to European food. |
1940 |
Loss of traditional pattern of land use but Anangu continue to have strong ties with the land. |
Mid 1940's |
Tourists start to arrive. |
1958 |
Uluru and Kata Tjuta are taken out of the Aboriginal Reserve and declared as a tourist and wildlife reserve. |
1971 |
Federal and South Australian Government officers meet with traditional owners at Ernabella. |
1973 |
Federal House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment visits Uluru. |
1974 |
Ayers Rock Advisory Committee first meets. |
1976 |
Northern Territory Land Rights Act passed. |
1979 |
Katiti Land Claim presented. |
1983 |
Aboriginal title to Uluru acknowledged. |
1984 |
Yulara Tourist Village, now Ayers Rock Resorts opens. |
1985 |
Title deeds handed over to traditional owners. |
1987 |
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park World Heritage listed as a natural property. |
1994 |
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park World Heritage listed as a cultural landscape. |
1995 |
Cultural Centre opened. |
