The last climbers to scale Uluru came off the rock at sunset on Friday evening and were greeted with both jeers and cheers to end an era for travellers to the Red Centre.
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There was not a single last climber, instead, a group of eight, all male, decided to hold hands and step off together at about 7pm (ACST).
Two rangers were with them.
While they might have been smiling and some family members clapped, there were jeers and derogatory comments such as "get off the rock" and "enjoy your 15 minutes of fame" from the crowd.
The climb was closed for good at 4pm on Friday as hundreds of tourists flocked to the red centre to be among the last to climb the ancient, and sacred, monolith.
Among the final eight climbers on Uluru was Las Vegas pilot Jayson Dudas, 36, who has climbed the rock before, but came to do it again when he heard of the ban.
He said he had travelled to 195 countries because he wants to visit everyone.
"I know there's a big controversy about the hike, I respect the first nations here but since it was an optional thing to do I decided to do it," he told reporters after finishing the climb.
"Now it is officially closed I won't be hiking it anymore."
Climbers had lined up since 4am at the base of the iconic 348-metre high sandstone rock, but it appeared they would miss out when rangers put up a sign declaring it was closed due to strong winds.
They opened the rock at 10am, with a lone young man running ahead of the pack to be the first on to Uluru on the last day climbs were allowed.
Shortly after ranger in charge Greg Elliot led other rangers in dismantling signage about tackling the climb and a sign was displayed declaring it "permanently closed".
People were mostly friendly but there was a police presence on what was a long and emotional day for some, especially the local Anangu Aboriginal people.
A police presence will be at the rock overnight with security also planned in the short-term with the chain handhold to be dismantled from Monday.
Traditional owner Vincent Forrester, who also works as a guide, booed at the climbers and accused tourism operators of not employing young people from the Mutitjulu community.
"You've got to take the mickey a bit, there's a sign over there but not one of them can read," he said, referring to the sign at Uluru's base asking people not to climb on behalf of the Pitjantjatjara Anangu people from Mutitjulu.
"It's going to close today but we want the visitors to come and we want them to enjoy the Aboriginal presentation of our own country."
Climber Gerry Krieg attracted some hostility when he held up a book A Guide to Climbing Ayers Rock by geologist Marc Hendrickx, a de facto spokesman for opponents of the ban who has vowed to climb it again.
A female ranger tried to snatch the book out of his hand, accusing him of causing trouble.
The ban was due to a "contrived situation, Mr Krieg said.
Uluru is a sacred site and of great spiritual significance to the Anangu.
The National Park board decided in 2017 to ban the climb, in what park operations manager Steven Baldwin said on Friday was a "triumph" of joint management and the Anangu people bravely showing they were not beholden to government or tourists.
Australian Associated Press
