Ayers Rock which is remnant of a mountain range which had eroded over time has stood for millions of years. Many researchers and historians believe that Aboriginal people have been living around the area for almost ten thousand years.
The sandstone rock is very scared to the local communities which have been living there and have depended upon it for water and other resources for centuries. The first European to witness this huge rock was in the year 1872, and surveyor William Gosse was the first European to climb the rock. Gosse named the rock after the Sir Henry Ayers who was then the Chief Secretary of South Australia. After its discovery many pastoralists tried to settle in that area which resulted in violence and discomfort with the native people. Due to gazing, bush food was getting depleted and eventually police patrols were required for maintaining calm and peace in that area. By the year 1921 a vast area in South and Western Australia were dedicated as Aboriginal reserves by the Australian government and the Aboriginal people living inside these reserves had little or no contact with the European settlers.
By the year 1936, government allowed tourist to visit these reserves and witness this amazing natural wonder. With tourism, the economy of that area started to grow and many more European started to settle near the reserved area. By 1948 the first road track was completed by the government which enabled buses to move to and fro from that area. The number of tourist arrival at Uluru increased dramatically changing the whole area completely. By the year 1958 the reserve was known as Ayers Rock-Mt Olga National Park and several motels were given licenses to operate. In the year 1985 the Australian government gave back the land on lease to its original owners, the Anangu Tribe on a condition that on completion of the lease the reserve would be handed back to Australia National Park and Wild Life Department. As of today the reserve is managed jointly by parks department and the local tribe council and some local Aboriginal people who are living inside the reserve and working with the authorities in maintaining the park and the wonder. Ayers Rock has stood for million of years and due to the influx of tourists its ecological balance may change for worse. It is a duty of all humans to preserve this priceless gift given to mankind by our mother nature. All tourists should contribute in preserving the nature for our future generations.