26 October 2015

30th anniversary of Uluru hand back

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) today celebrates the 30th anniversary of the return of Uluru to Anangu traditional owners.

NSWALC Chief Executive Officer Lesley Turner said the return of land on the 26th of October 1985 was a pivotal moment in the history of Land Rights in Australia.

At a ceremony held on country, the Hawke Labor Government handed over the title deeds to the Anangu traditional owners, who then signed an agreement to lease the land back to the then Australian Parks and Wildlife Service for 99 years.

The Land Rights network in New South Wales pays tribute to courage and determination of traditional owners who fought so hard for the recognition of their land.

The right to live on the land allows greater opportunities to pass on cultural knowledge and law to future generations.

The 30th anniversary of the return of Uluru reminds us of the hard-fought gains won by the Land Rights legends who have gone before us and the opportunities and challenges we face in shaping the economic, cultural and spiritual revitalisation of our people.

PDF version available here.

Lesley Turner
Chief Executive Officer