On this day in 1873 explorer William Grosse left Alice Springs on an expedition, during which he discovers Ayers Rock. William, of the South Australian Survey department, became the first European explorer to see Ayers Rock, quite by accident. He had to find water for his camels so took a more southerly course than he had originally planned and came across Ayers Rock recording that: “This rock is certainly the most wonderful natural feature I have even seen”. Ayers Rock was named after the former Premier of South Australia, Sir Henry Ayers. It is now known by its native name of Uluru.
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