Locating the old Inland Motel Ayers Rock

Hi
Sorry to hear of your loss.
it's not much, but this was discussed in thread no; 72640 - there were pics but they don't seem to come up now

Also I found this
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxj92UPFP4ru3hh7lmY_oNzs6VxHNkenWoO0hOwJDUzyodN2Tntw

It's a little small but it is a map of the old Ayres Rock campground - Before Yulara
Maybe someone else will have a better copy for you

Cheers
Paul

Ian,

That was a tragedy alright.

Just been looking at Google Earth and have "borrowed" an image of the Rock. After reading Paul's reply, and checking out his map, I find my initial suggestion that "everything" was to the west, and North-west of the Rock was wrong.(well, was very drunk when we arrived one August night in '74). Can remember that the campground was very close, so much so that the top of Uluru seemed to be at 30-40 degree angle from where we'd camped.

You can see the old airstrip on northern side of the Rock, which helps to correlate it with mud map supplied by Paul.



There's a faint road towards the bottom right hand corner, that may have been the old access road to the Motel? There may be some old timers up there, or perhaps one of the Rangers that could put you on the right track, when you arrive, especially considering your association with the site.

Good luck,
Bob

Here is a report on the incident which says the motel was on the eastern side.

" 18th August, 1983 : Five people are dead and another 40 injured after a truck driver deliberately smashed a road train truck into the bar of an Ayers Rock motel early today. Unsuspecting drinkers had no warning as the driver rammed the truck, with lights out, into the tiny bar at 60 to 80 kmh, just before 2 a.m. Four people died instantly, and a woman died tonight in the Alice Springs hospital. The truck was driven into the Inland Motel, on the eastern side of Ayers Rock, and it is believed the driver was earlier involved in a disturbance at the motel. Police have charged the 36-year-old driver with murder."

Just out of curiosity, is that anywhere near the resort/camping area? Also in the same time frame was the death of Azaria Chamberlain.
Looking at old photos, these places seem much closer to the Rock than what I could see at the resort a few years back.

Stayed in the motel in 1980. From memory it was close to the rock. If you look on Google Earth, locate the old airstrip and go ENE from the eastern end of the strip there is a track going to an area where there is some disturbance - I think that is where the Inland Motel was located - can remember looking out of our window on a wet morning and were looking at the "Brain"

A mate of mine was drinking with his boss and wife at that table seconds before it happened, he didn't get hurt as it was his shout, he was at the bar.
I remember him telling me what happened, saddly he has passed on now himself.

Hi,

Im sure the site is now part of Mutitjulu community. Access is restricted.

Regards
Craig

Thank you to everyone for the replies. From further investigation and from the information here I am starting to think it is within the Mutitjulu community. We will be there in 3 weeks so will see about access when we get there. Once I get back I will update the thread just in case other people are interested.

Ian

I think you'll find the site of the "Boomerang?" Hotel now lies within the off-limits" Mutitjulu and/or the Park Ranger residential area.

Sounds like your friends might have been involved in the terrible event where the truckie decided to take revenge on the decision to refuse him a beer - leading to him smashing the truck through the front bar.

ChrisB38