Yulara, Northern Territory

Yulara Northern Territory
Yulara from helicopter in August 2004
Yulara
Coordinates	25°14′0″S 130°59′0″E / 25.23333°S 130.98333°E / -25.23333; 130.98333Coordinates: 25°14′0″S 130°59′0″E / 25.23333°S 130.98333°E / -25.23333; 130.98333
Population	887 (2011 census)[1]
• Density	8.584/km2 (22.233/sq mi)
Established	2006
Postcode(s)	0872
Elevation	492 m (1,614 ft)
Area	103.33 km2 (39.9 sq mi)
Location	18 km (11 mi) from Uluru 428 km (266 mi) from Alice Springs
LGA(s)	unincorporated area
Territory electorate(s)	Namatjira
Federal Division(s)	Lingiari
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 30.0 °C 86 °F 14.0 °C 57 °F 285.2 mm 11.2 in

Yulara (25°14′S 130°59′E / 25.233°S 130.983°E / -25.233; 130.983) is an isolated town in the Southern Region of the Northern Territory, Australia. It lies as an unincorporated enclave within MacDonnell Region. At the 2011 census, Yulara had a permanent population of 887.^[1] on an area of 103.33 square kilometres (39.90 sq mi). More than three-quarters of the residents of Yulara are from either overseas or another Australian state. The name is derived from local Aboriginal words for howling and dingos.^[2] It is 18 kilometres (11 mi) by road from world heritage site Uluru (Ayers Rock) and 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Kata Tjuta (the Olgas). It is located in the Northern Territory electorate of Namatjira and the federal electorate of Lingiari.

History

In early 1970, the pressure of unstructured and unmonitored tourism including motels near the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) was having detrimental effects on the environment surrounding Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Following the recommendations of a Senate Select Committee to remove all developments near the base of the rock and build a new resort outside of the boundaries of the national park to support tourism to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Commonwealth government agreed in 1973 to relocate accommodation facilities to a new site. In 1976, the Governor General proclaimed the new town of Yulara, some 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from Uluru.

After the Northern Territory was granted Self Government in 1978, development of the new town became a major priority of the Northern Territory Government. Between 1978 and 1981, basic infrastructure (roads, water supply etc.) was built via the government's capital works program. In 1980 the government set up the Yulara Development Company Ltd to develop tourist accommodation, staff housing and a shopping centre. The first stage of the resort was built between 1982 and 1984 for the Northern Territory Government by Yulara Development Company Ltd., at a cost of A$130 million. The resort was designed by Philip Cox & Associates and won the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) Sir Zelman Cowen Award in 1984.

When the new facilities became fully operational in late 1984, the Commonwealth Government terminated all leases for the old motels near the Rock, and the area was rehabilitated by the national parks service (now called Parks Australia). Around the same time, the national park was renamed as Uluru Kata Tjuta and its ownership transferred to the local Indigenous people, who leased it back to the Parks Australia for 99 years.

There were originally three competing hotels, however this added significantly to the problem of lack of viability, and the company (and indirectly the government) incurred massive operating losses.

In 1990 to 1992, the competing hotel operators were replaced by a single operator, the government owned Investnorth Management Pty Ltd. In 1992, the government sold through open tender a 40% interest in the Yulara Development Company (and therefore, the resort) to a venture capital consortium.

In 1997, the entire resort was sold by open tender to General Property Trust, which appointed Voyages Hotels & Resorts as operator. Voyages operated all aspects of the resort, with the exception of the post office (Australia Post) and the bank (ANZ). Almost all residents of the town rented their housing from Voyages, but government leases some housing for its employees. Most residents are workers in the resort or tour operators. In 2011, the resort was sold again to the Indigenous Land Corporation who operate the resort under its subsidiary, Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia.^[3][4]

Transportation

The nearby Connellan Airport makes it possible to reach the area in a few hours from Sydney, Melbourne, Alice Springs or Cairns, compared to five hours by car from Alice Springs, the nearest major town, 428 kilometres (266 mi) northeast.

The resort is served by one major road, the Lasseter Highway, which links it to surrounding roads and landmarks. The Lasseter Highway is currently being expanded in the area to help with the tourism traffic flow. The sealed Lasseter Highway extends east to meet the Stuart Highway. The roads in other directions are not so well maintained or travelled. The Gunbarrel Highway and Great Central Road lead west and southwest into Western Australia, but are generally only suitable for high clearance four-wheel drive vehicles. Transit permits from Aboriginal Land Councils are required to travel west of Kata-Tjuta.

Climate

Yulara has a dry and arid climate, with little rain and a high mean average temperature.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yulara.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Yulara.

• Satellite image from Google Maps
• Nyangatjatjara College, Yulara