Leslie Massey
Australia Zoo, located in Queensland, Australia, has undergone several name changes and expansions since its establishment in 1970. Initially known as Beerwah Reptile Park, the zoo was founded by Bob and Lyn Irwin, who passed on their love for wildlife to their son, Steve Irwin. In 1982, the park was renamed the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, and in 1991, Steve took over its management. As the popularity of The Crocodile Hunter grew, Steve and his wife, Terri, renamed the park Australia Zoo in 1998, reflecting their vision to create the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous names | Beerwah Reptile Park, Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, Crocodile Environmental Park |
| Year of renaming to Australia Zoo | 1998 |
| Founders | Bob and Lyn |
| Founders' children | Joy, Steve, Mandy |
| Current owners | Steve and Terri Irwin |
| Steve Irwin's birth year | 1962 |
| Terri Irwin's birth year | 1964 |
| Year Steve took over management | 1991 |
| Year Steve and Terri married | 1992 |
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What You'll Learn
The name change from Beerwah Reptile Park
The Beerwah Reptile Park was established in 1970 by Bob and Lyn Irwin, who passed on their love and respect for wildlife to their three children: Joy, Steve, and Mandy. The two-acre wildlife park was home to native wildlife such as lace monitors, tiger snakes, freshwater crocodiles, magpie geese, and kangaroos. Lyn Irwin, Steve's mother, was an extraordinary wildlife rehabilitator, skilled in nursing injured and orphaned animals back to health before releasing them into the wild.
Steve, who grew up helping his parents care for the animals in the park, took over its management in 1991. That same year, he met Terri Raines, who was visiting the park. Terri shared Steve's passion for wildlife, and the two were married in 1992. Together, they embarked on a crocodile rescue mission, filming the experience as the first episode of "The Crocodile Hunter" documentary series.
As the popularity of "The Crocodile Hunter" grew, Steve and Terri changed the name of their expanding wildlife park to "Australia Zoo" in 1998. Their mission was to make it the best zoo in Australia, if not the world. They invested all the funds raised from filming and merchandise into conservation and building new exhibits, always putting the animals first.
Today, Australia Zoo continues to be a leading wildlife conservation facility, with a team of passionate conservationists working tirelessly to deliver unique animal experiences. The zoo has expanded to include various exhibits, such as the African Savannah, South-East Asia exhibit, and Bindi's Island. It also houses the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, named in honour of Lyn Irwin, who passed away in a car accident in 2000.
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Crocodile Environmental Park
The Crocodile Environmental Park was opened in 1987 to aid in the protection of saltwater crocodiles. The area was mainly used to house adult saltwater crocodiles that had been captured and relocated from the wild. The park was an expansion of the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, which had been renamed from Beerwah Reptile Park in 1982.
The Crocodile Environmental Park became very popular in the 1990s for its unique display of crocodile feeding within the park. Crocodile Environmental Park was an important part of the Irwin family's growing wildlife park, which would later become known as Australia Zoo.
Steve Irwin, who was born into a family with a deep love and respect for wildlife, took over the management of the small wildlife park in 1991. He shared his parents' passion for wildlife conservation and had been helping to care for crocodiles and reptiles since childhood. Not long after taking over management, Steve met Terri Raines, a kindred spirit with a love for predatory mammals, when she visited the park.
Steve and Terri's lives changed dramatically when they married in 1992 and embarked on a crocodile rescue mission, filming this experience as the first episode of "The Crocodile Hunter" documentary series. As the popularity of "The Crocodile Hunter" grew, Steve and Terri changed the name of their now-thriving wildlife park to "Australia Zoo" in 1998. They were dedicated to making it the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the world, with extensive efforts made to create natural habitats for the animals.
Today, Australia Zoo continues to be a leader in wildlife conservation, with a zoo team of passionate conservationists and a philosophy that puts the animals first. The zoo has expanded to include a 1,300-square-metre wildlife hospital, which can care for up to 10,000 animals per year and is named in honour of Steve Irwin's mother, Lynn Irwin. The Crocodile Environmental Park, now a part of Australia Zoo, remains an important part of the zoo's conservation efforts, housing and rehabilitating crocodiles and contributing to the protection of saltwater crocodiles in Australia.
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The Crocodile Hunter
Steve was born on 22 February 1962 in Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria. His parents, Bob and Lyn, moved the family to Beerwah, Queensland, and opened the Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970. This two-acre wildlife park was home to native wildlife such as lace monitors, tiger snakes, freshwater crocodiles, magpie geese, and kangaroos. Steve grew up helping his parents care for the animals and developed a gift for working with wildlife.
Terri was born on 20 July 1964 in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Her father would often bring home injured wildlife he found on the road, instilling in her a love for wildlife and a desire to help animals. In 1984, Terri took over the running of the family construction business. In 1986, she started a wildlife rehabilitation facility called 'Cougar Country', specialising in predatory mammals. In 1989, she began working as a veterinary technician at an emergency veterinary hospital, further developing her animal care skills.
Steve and Terri's lives changed forever when they met in 1991 after Terri visited the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park. They married on 4 June 1992 and embarked on a crocodile rescue mission instead of a honeymoon, filming the experience. This became the first episode of The Crocodile Hunter. As the series gained popularity, Steve and Terri changed the name of their growing wildlife park to Australia Zoo. They dedicated all proceeds from filming and merchandise to conservation and building new exhibits, always putting the animals first.
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Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital
The Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital is a 1,300-square-metre facility located next to Australia Zoo. It was established by Steve and Terri Irwin, who renovated a small avocado packing shed into a functioning wildlife hospital. The hospital was inspired by and later dedicated to Steve's mother, Lyn Irwin, who died in a car accident in 2000. She was a pioneer in wildlife care and rehabilitation and had a deep love and respect for wildlife, a passion she passed on to her son, Steve.
The hospital first opened in 2004 and has since treated and released tens of thousands of sick or injured native animals. It can care for up to 10,000 animals per year, with two operating theatres, two treatment rooms, intensive care units for mammals, birds, and reptiles, and an X-ray room. The hospital is one of the world's largest and busiest purpose-built wildlife hospitals, playing a vital role in saving Australia's native species.
The Queensland Government and Sunshine Coast Council are major supporters of the hospital, providing assistance to ensure the best possible care for all wildlife patients. The hospital is also supported by donations, with funds raised from tours and donations helping the hospital continue its conservation work.
The Irwin family has a long history with the zoo, transforming a few acres of land into the world's biggest wildlife conservation facility. Steve Irwin took over management of the small wildlife park in 1991 and, soon after, met his future wife, Terri Raines, when she visited the park. The couple shared a passion for wildlife and, after their marriage in 1992, they changed the name of their growing wildlife park to Australia Zoo. The zoo has continued to expand and develop, with new exhibits and conservation efforts, all while prioritising the care and well-being of the animals.
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The Irwin family
Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin, born on 22 February 1962, was the face of Australia Zoo and a renowned wildlife conservationist. Growing up in Queensland's Sunshine Coast, he helped his parents, Bob and Lyn, care for crocodiles, reptiles, and other animals at their small wildlife park, the Beerwah Reptile Park, established in 1970. In 1982, the park was renamed the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park, and it continued to expand. In 1991, Steve took over the management of the park, and his life changed when he met Terri Raines, who shared his passion for wildlife. They married in 1992 and embarked on a crocodile rescue mission for their honeymoon, filming the experience, which became the first episode of "The Crocodile Hunter." Steve and Terri's adventures aired on the documentary series, "The Crocodile Hunter," which grew in popularity. Together, they worked to build and expand Australia Zoo, putting all funds raised from filming and merchandise into conservation and creating natural habitats for the animals. Sadly, Steve passed away in 2006.
Terri Irwin
Terri Irwin, born on 20 July 1964, shared Steve's passion for wildlife and conservation. Before meeting Steve, Terri had worked in her family's construction business and ran a wildlife rehabilitation facility called 'Cougar Country.' She also worked as a veterinary technician. As a couple, Steve and Terri shared a vision to make Australia Zoo the biggest and best wildlife conservation facility in the world. Terri has continued to dedicate her life to this vision, even after Steve's passing. She has overseen the expansion of the zoo, the establishment of the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, and the care and rehabilitation of thousands of animals.
Bindi Irwin
Bindi Irwin, born in 1998, is the daughter of Steve and Terri. She has inherited her parents' love for wildlife and is a passionate conservationist herself. Bindi Island, a three-story treehouse exhibit at Australia Zoo, is named after her. Following the birth of her daughter, the Rainforest Aviary was renamed Grace's Bird Garden. Bindi has followed in her parents' footsteps, advocating for wildlife conservation and continuing their legacy.
Robert Irwin
Robert Clarence Irwin, born on 1 December 2003, is the son of Steve and Terri. He shares his family's passion for wildlife and is a wildlife conservationist and photographer. Robert works at Australia Zoo, bringing contagious energy to his endeavours, including wildlife photography, feeding crocodiles, and educating others through his work in front of and behind the camera.
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Frequently asked questions
Australia Zoo changed its name to its current name in 1998.
The zoo was previously known as the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park.
The zoo changed its name as it expanded and grew in popularity.
Bob and Lyn Irwin, Steve Irwin's parents, owned the zoo before he took over in 1991.
Established in 1970, the zoo started as a two-acre wildlife park that was home to native wildlife such as lace monitors, tiger snakes, freshwater crocodiles, magpie geese, and kangaroos.
