Climbing banned on Uluru after decades-long campaign

SYDNEY - Australia's world-famous Uluru, formerly known as Ayers Rock, will be closed to climbers from 2019, its management board said on Wednesday, ending a decadeslong campaign by Aborigines to protect their sacred monolith in the Northern Territory.

A board of eight traditional owners and four government officials voted unanimously to close the rock to climbers, a spokesperson said.

"The climb is a men's sacred area, the men have closed it," chairman Sammy Wilson said in a statement. "It has cultural significance that includes certain restrictions."