Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The iconic monolith in Australia's Northern Territory bears two official names: Uluru (Aboriginal) and Ayers Rock (European).
Explorer William Gosse named it after Sir Henry Ayers, then Chief Secretary of South Australia. The name became standard in colonial and later Australian usage.
For tens of thousands of years, the Anangu people (Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara) have called it Uluru. The word is a proper noun with deep cultural meaning—often translated as "great pebble," "meeting place," or simply "the rock." It is not a descriptive term but a name tied to Tjukurpa (law, creation stories).
In a landmark recognition of Indigenous heritage, the site was officially renamed "Uluru / Ayers Rock" (order later reversed to "Uluru / Ayers Rock" per Anangu preference). This acknowledged dual significance and paved the way for the 1985 handback of title to the Anangu, who lease it back as Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park.
Dual naming is a visible act of reconciliation, affirming that the land holds layered histories and that Indigenous knowledge and sovereignty endure.