How Bindi and Robert Irwin carry the wildlife legacy of Steve Irwin
As ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Steve Irwin’s legacy continues on in his children and at Australia Zoo, we take a look back at the Irwin family history — filled with joy, grief and controversy.
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They are the famously khaki wearing family who have captivated fans around the world with their enthusiasm for wildlife conservation.
The Irwin family has dealt with triumphs and tragedy over the years, especially following the sudden death of their patriarch, Steve ‘The Crocodile Hunter’ Irwin, in 2006.
But his widow Terri and their children Bindi and Robert have managed to maintain — and some say surpass — his legacy.
The Irwins have also been plagued by some controversies along the way. We take a look at the Irwin family history as they continue to expand and nurture Steve’s legacy, Australia Zoo.
Rise of The Crocodile Hunter
Stephen Robert Irwin was born on February 22, 1962 in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria to Bob and Lyn Irwin.
The Irwin family moved to Beerwah, Queensland in 1970 and opened the Beerwah Reptile Park.
Steve’s love of wildlife, particularly crocodiles, started at a young age with him actively involved in the reptile park — renamed in 1980 as Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park — which he took over running on October 4, 1991.
He met visiting tourist Terri Raines around the same time and after a whirlwind romance, the couple married on June 4, 1992 in Terri’s hometown of Oregon in the United States.
While on their honeymoon, they ended up creating The Crocodile Hunter TV documentary series, which over time was broadcast around the world.
“Steve and Terri’s wildlife documentaries brought Australia Zoo to the world stage, attracting visitors from across the world to the Sunshine Coast,” Terri’s Australia Zoo profile states online.
In 1998, they once again changed the name of their business to Australia Zoo, as it is still known today.
“Steve developed crocodile capture and management techniques that are now utilised with crocodilians around the world,” the Australia Zoo website states.
Their first child Bindi was born in July 1998 and then Robert was born in December 2003, making them a tight-knit family of four.
During his career, Steve set up the conservation charity Wildlife Warriors in 2002 and through his hard work shone a light on the importance of protecting our wildlife around the globe.
Steve Irwin’s shock death
The Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray barb on September 4, 2006 while filming on the Great Barrier Reef near Port Douglas. The barb hit the legendary conservationist in the chest and he died a short time later.
His death shocked the world and there was talk Australia Zoo would not survive his death — but Terri and their children, aged eight and two at the time, proved the critics wrong.
The close-knit family all live and work together at the zoo and often travel overseas as a group.
Terri has admitted to QWeekend in 2021 Steve was “it” for her.
“Steve was it for me. That’s just the way it is. I had a big, big love and it was enough to last a lifetime.”
Bindi and Robert Irwin
Steve’s legacy clearly lives on in his children. Bindi, was born on July 24, 1998 and then Robert was born on December 1 in 2003.
They were thrust into the spotlight at an early age, particularly while Steve was alive, but after his death they continued to promote Australia Zoo, working there or in the entertainment part of the business.
Audiences watched the siblings grow up over the years where they both appeared in TV shows Crikey! It’s the Irwins and Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors among others, with Bindi even venturing into doing movies like Free Willy: Escape from Pirate’s Cove and Return to Nim’s Island.
Bindi also started her own TV shows, Bindi: The Jungle Girl and Bindi’s Bootcamp.
In 2013, Bindi met American wakeboarder Chandler Powell at Australia Zoo, at almost the same location her parents met decades before.
They married in 2020 and Chandler moved to Australia and plays an active role working at the zoo.
They became parents to Grace Warrior Irwin Powell in 2021 and are bringing her up at Australia Zoo.
On July 3, 2022 Robert made the cover of Stellar magazine, taking part in a fashion shoot as well as talking candidly about his childhood and life without his dad.
“I am sort of stepping into adulthood, having turned 18, and navigating that is hard enough [but] when you are in my situation, and you don’t have a father figure to guide you through, it’s really hard,” he told Stellar.
Irwin ‘family feud’
While Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin have actually appeared on the US TV game show Family Feud in 2017 they have been plagued with lingering speculation of a feud with Steve’s dad Bob for more than a decade.
Bob was involved in the running of Australia Zoo even after he gave Steve and Terri ownership in 1992 but it was after Steve’s death that tensions rose.
There were reports of a feud between Bob and Terri over how she was running the zoo since Steve’s passing so Bob left the business about two years after Steve’s death — and has been estranged from Terri, Bindi and Robert ever since.
In an exclusive interview with The Courier Mail in 2019, respected conservationist and environmentalist Bob Irwin revealed he hadn’t seen Bindi and Robert in more than a decade — but maintained there is no family feud.
But he hasn’t returned to Australia Zoo since he resigned in 2008.
When Bindi got engaged in 2019, Bob said she did not respond to his letter of congratulations and he wasn’t invited to her wedding.
But scathing comments from Bindi on social media following a Father’s Day appreciation post — where she did not mention her grandfather — revealed a rift.
“I really wish that my entire family could spend time with [her newborn daughter] Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family.”
She went on to write: “He has returned gifts I’ve sent after he opened them, he has ignored my correspondence and from the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me. He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.”
She said her mum also writes to him but gets no response despite giving him financial support since 1992 sending him funds every week.
“We built him a house on a beautiful property and will always do our best to ensure his wellbeing,” she wrote.
“I have struggled with this relationship my entire life and it brings me enormous pain. I have to choose to care for my own mental health now.”
Bob also revealed his thoughts on his grandchildren in his 2017 autobiography The Last Crocodile Hunter: A Father and Son Legacy.
Steve’s croc controversy
Two years before his death, Steve made headlines after holding his son Robert while he fed a giant crocodile at Australia Zoo.
The act, which was said to have put Robert’s life at risk, got international media attention and according to his longtime friend John Stainton at the time, it led to a “dark period” for Steve.
In April 2022, Olympic swimmer Lisa Curry in her memoir revealed Steve lost his chance of getting the Australian of the Year award over that incident.
After his death the zoo faced some controversy when in 2013, tiger handler Dave Styles was attacked, bitten in the neck by a male Sumatran-Bengal mix tiger he had raised from a cub.
Legacy of Australia Zoo
The zoo is plagued with speculation about how Terri was running the zoo caused friction with Bob and other family members after Steve’s death.
But on the zoo’s official website states two months before he died, Steve created a 10-year business plan for the zoo and his “passionate family continue to strive to achieve all of the goals Steve hoped to attain”.
Bindi and Robert essentially became the faces of the zoo, along with Terri’s guidance, taking active roles at the zoo, in TV shows and movies in a bid to promote wildlife and conservation.
But like many businesses, Australia Zoo was hit hard by the pandemic. Terri revealed in an episode of Crikey! It’s the Irwins in 2020 they had no income and just six weeks’ worth of food for their 1200 animals when the zoo was forced to close.
“I can’t even come close to paying bills; we are having to stand down staff and it’s very emotional,” Terri said during the episode.
“I’m the pilot of a big plane and the plane is going down, and I’m handing out all the parachutes I’ve got.
“This was Steve’s passion. Steve would say to me, ‘if anything happens to me, make sure the zoo continues’,” she said.
“So it’s really important that we keep this going.”
We’re open and our first guests have arrived! We’re excited to have completed something that Steve dreamed of, giving visitors the chance to spend the night surrounded by nature. This is the start of a beautiful new chapter for @AustraliaZoo, we can’t wait to share it with you! pic.twitter.com/vAdLeAjwZX
— CrocHunterLodge (@CrocHunterLodge) June 30, 2022
5 star accomodation has arrived @AustraliaZoo. The Crocodile Hunter Lodge is now open for bookings! For years, Dad dreamed of giving guests an unforgettable, high-end accomodation experience at the zoo & now it’s a reality. Luxury meets sustainability. https://t.co/QydjxndyDGpic.twitter.com/qWP2C2iaqO
— Robert Irwin (@RobertIrwin) June 24, 2022
Terri was forced to take out a bank loan to cover “at least 20 years of fallout” from Covid but along with other zoos, they also received government grants.
They used the funds to keep them afloat as well as build the Crocodile Hunter Lodge which opened on June 30. It includes five-star accommodation at the zoo as well as the Warrior Restaurant & Bar and an infinity pool.
Ahead of its official opening, Robert posted a tweet saying his dad “dreamed of giving guests an unforgettable, high-end accommodation experience at the zoo & now it’s a reality”.
The family continues to work hard to keep Steve’s legacy alive.
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Originally published as How Bindi and Robert Irwin carry the wildlife legacy of Steve Irwin
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