A Time Traveller’s Guide to Forbidden Places of Awe and Wonder in Australia
In this illustrated presentation, geologist and author Marc Hendrickx brings a historical perspective to recent closures of bushwalking and climbing sites in Australia, including the Grampians, Mount Arapiles, Ayers Rock and Mount Warning.
The closure of public access to landscapes of awe and wonder in Australia has been wracked with controversy. Summit access at Ayers Rock and Mount Warning has been banned without due acknowledgement of the wonderful history of climbing at both locations. This approach is also apparent in the bans on rock climbing at the Grampians and Mount Arapiles in western Victoria. This fascinating presentation uncovers lesser-known histories, stories and narratives that reveal the complicated interplay of politics, power and fabrication behind decisions to lock Australians out of their cultural heritage. How may this “unearthed” history be used to reopen these places and ensure that other awe-inspiring places remain accessible to all of us?