At Australia House, The King has commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Handback of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa to its Traditional Owners.
On arrival at Australia House, The King met nine Aṉangu Traditional Owners who have travelled from Australia, with the support of the High Commission, to mark this historic occasion.
Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park is considered one of the most striking and culturally iconic places in Australia. Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa are separate large geological rock formations, which are sacred sites for Aṉangu, the First Nations people of the region.
In 1976, the Australian Parliament passed the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act, meaning that First Nations peoples could claim land where traditional ownership could be proven.
The Hawke Government handed back the title deeds for the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park to Aṉangu on 26 October 1985. The ceremony to return the title took place at the base of Uluṟu, where hundreds of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people saw then-Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen pass over the title deeds to Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa.
As part of the same ceremony, Aṉangu signed an agreement to lease the park back to the Australian Parks and Wildlife Service, establishing a joint management arrangement for a period of ninety-nine years.
After speaking to the Traditional Owners, The King joined guests, gathered to watch a traditional performance by Aṉangu and a short film to mark the 40th anniversary of Handback.
Aṉangu will mark the 40th anniversary of the Handback of Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa at a public celebration concert on Saturday 25th October. The celebration will be held at the Talinguṟu Nyakunytjaku sunrise site.
His Majesty The King has visited Australia 17 times. Most recently, with Her Majesty The Queen in 2024, when Their Majesties visited New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory.
During the visit Their Majesties marked the 200th Anniversary of New South Wales Parliament, visited the Australian War Memorial including the ‘For Our Country’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Memorial, the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence in Redfern, Sydney, and met members of the public at the Sydney Opera House.
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