Important strides in first nations' custodianship were made in 1985, with the front page of The Canberra Times 35 years ago reporting on Uluru being returned to the Pitjantjatjara people.
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Uluru was returned to first nations by Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen in a formal ceremony on October 26, with an audience of over 2000 people. The national park, held by the trust on behalf of over 200 traditional owners was swiftly leased back to the Commonwealth for 99 years.
"The ceremony, if not carried out with crack precision, was conducted in the spirit of great goodwill and good humour," the article stated.
The decision to give back the landmark to its original owners was controversial, with key opponents including then-federal opposition leader John Howard and NT chief minister Ian Tuxworth.
"It is a divisive, misconceived act which will make no contribution at all to improving the lot of Aboriginal Australians within our community," Mr Howard said.
Mr Tuxworth and his Country Liberals party boycotted the ceremony, and described the event as the "as the last day that all Australians owned the rock".
The former chief minister, who passed away earlier this year, changed his tune on Uluru's ownership towards the end of his life.
"I think the project has moved on and people are doing it well and they should be congratulated," Mr Tuxworth told the ABC in 2015.
"Whatever the contentious issues were back 30 years ago they've been overtaken by the success of the project."
The ceremony was interrupted by a light plane flying over with a banner "Ayers Rock for all Australians".
Criticism such as this was taken in stride during the ceremony, with first nations master of ceremonies Yami Lester joking about the concerns about Indigenous ownership.
"Tomorrow that rock is going missing," he said.
"Aboriginal people are going to take it away."
Far from being an exclusive site, under first nations' ownership Uluru has continued to be a sacred site and loved landmark.
Since October 26, 2019, climbing the landmark was banned, ensuring the site was respected and protected for future generations.