Journey Past has agreed to buy the operational belongings of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia – operator of Ayers Rock Resort and Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre.
The Indigenous Land and Sea Company (ILSC) introduced on Friday that it has entered into an settlement to promote the subsidiary to Journey Past, marking the primary in a sequence of transactions that it says will formalise the switch of land and buildings at each websites and convey important ongoing financial advantages to the respective Conventional House owners; Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara of Yulara and the Kuku Yalanji of Mossman Gorge.
Each communities might be paid hire from Journey Past’s leasing of the websites below 90- and 10-year leases respectively.
“At this time’s settlement is the fruits of years of labor and engagement with Group to discover a new operational proprietor for Voyages to facilitate the divestment of land to Group and guarantee a vivid future for Voyages, and the native Indigenous communities of Yulara and Mossman Gorge,” saidILSC CEO, Joe Morrison.
“Journey Past is a number one Australian tourism operator and logical proprietor of Voyages. From the outset, the ILSC’s focus has been on maximsing Indigenous profit. By means of the settlement introduced right this moment and the ancillary transaction paperwork, we’ll see greater than $500 million in profit flowing to First Nations Group.”
Established in 2016, and headquartered in Adelaide on Kaurna Nation, Journey Past is Australia’s main experiential tourism group. It owns and operates 20 well-known experiences throughout the nation together with The Ghan and Indian Pacific, in addition to cruises, touring, sights and lodging; employs greater than 2000 individuals throughout 15 places of work nationwide and has a confirmed observe report working carefully with over 25 First Nations teams.
“Journey Past is thrilled to be working with ILSC, Anangu of Yulara, Kuku Yalanji of Mossman Gorge and the Voyages workforce,” mentioned Journey Past CEO, Chris Tallent.
“This marks an thrilling enlargement and completely aligns with Journey Past’s central function of making superb iconic experiences, which might be immersive, genuine and uniquely Australian.
“Journey Past has intensive and real expertise of positively working with Indigenous communities throughout Australia, together with within the Northern Territory’s Arnhem Land and Western Australia’s Kimberley Area.
“We’re dedicated to supporting the continuing growth of the Nationwide Indigenous Coaching Academy (NITA) which supplies coaching, growth and employment pathways to develop the native Indigenous workforce not solely in Central Australia however throughout all our manufacturers.”
The sale course of commenced in August 2024 following an in depth strategic overview into the longer term possession of Voyages which centered on maximising Indigenous profit and supporting the long-term success of the 2 world class tourism locations.
Voyages will proceed to be led by the present administration workforce, below Journey Past’s stewardship.
Voyages CEO, Matt Cameron-Smith, mentioned the partnership brings nice alternatives.
“We’re excited for the subsequent stage in Voyages journey, which can open up important alternatives for the enterprise, our visitors, our communities and for our individuals,” he mentioned.
“We’re happy with what we’ve constructed, and we’re enthusiastic about what comes subsequent. This partnership permits us to develop our footprint whereas staying true to our foundations – delivering world class cultural tourism experiences in partnership with the communities we work with.”
The sale settlement will solely cross management of the operational belongings of Voyages to Journey Past, with land and buildings at Yulara and Mossman Gorge finally transferred to “the suitable Group companies consultant of the related Conventional House owners”. The last word switch at Yulara will mark “the biggest single return of land to Conventional House owners within the ILSC’s historical past by way of each worth and space”.
The transaction is anticipated to be finalised in early 2026 with the divestment of the Yulara land to Anangu additionally anticipated to be finalised in 2026 and the divestment of Mossman Gorge land to observe.
The YAC Board mentioned the Anangu Conventional House owners of Yulara are “very joyful” with the choice by ILSC at hand again the land that was initially excised from the Nationwide Park in 1976.
“This divestment has been a very long time coming and while it received’t be finalised till the top of 2026, returning Yulara to Anangu management is an funding in our future that can carry advantages in employment, training and help for Anangu enterprises,” the YAC Board mentioned.
“We sit up for working carefully with Journey Past within the growth of world class Indigenous tourism experiences that can share our language, our tradition and our wealthy landscapes with guests from throughout Australia and around the globe.”
