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The financial settlement offered to Australia Zoo founder Bob Irwin Snr when he quit the family business 13 years ago has been revealed.
The revelation comes amid a bitter family feud involving the 82-year-old conservationist – the father of the late Steve Irwin – and his granddaughter Bindi, 22, who claims he has ‘ignored’ her since she was a child.
In April 2008, Bob received a $1million pay-off when he departed the zoo – which he founded as Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970 – plus a $100,000-per-year pension.
Money matters: The financial settlement offered to Australia Zoo founder Bob Irwin Snr (pictured) when he quit the family business 13 years ago has been revealed
An earlier financial arrangement had been reached in 1992 when Bob and his first wife, Lyn, handed over ownership of the zoo to Steve and Terri Irwin.
Because Steve and Terri were unable to afford the $300,000 required to purchase Australia Zoo, they instead agreed to a retirement package for Bob and Lyn whereby they would pay them a wage for the rest of their lives.
Lyn died in the year 2000 in a single-vehicle accident.
An Australia Zoo spokesperson said in 2008: ‘Australia Zoo, under instruction from Terri Irwin, will continue to provide financial assistance to Bob with a retirement package worth over $1 million, plus an ongoing annual pension of $99,840 per year.
‘The $1 million package includes the purchase of Mr Irwin’s 632-hectare property near Kingaroy, and the construction of a new home, a car each for him and his wife plus a bulldozer and other equipment.’
Agreement: In April 2008, Bob received a $1million pay-off when he departed the zoo – which he founded as Beerwah Reptile Park in 1970 – plus a $100,000-per-year pension. Pictured: Steve, Terri and Bindi Irwin
Australia Zoo was opened by Bob and Lyn Irwin in 1970 under the name Beerwah Reptile and Fauna Park.
Their son Steve and his American wife, Terri, eventually transformed the wildlife park into the modern Australia Zoo.
Bolstered by Steve’s television fame as ‘The Crocodile Hunter, the park became an extremely popular tourist destination.
Terri became the sole owner of the zoo in September 2006 after Steve died aged 44 in a freak accident while filming a wildlife documentary in Batt Reef, Queensland.
It comes after the Irwins’ daughter, Bindi, addressed her relationship with her estranged grandfather Bob in a scathing Facebook comment on Sunday, and claimed her family had been supporting Bob financially since 1992.
Financial arrangement: An earlier financial arrangement had been reached in 1992 when Bob and his first wife, Lyn, handed over ownership of the zoo to Steve and Terri Irwin. Because Steve and Terri were unable to afford the $300,000 required to purchase Australia Zoo, they instead agreed to a retirement package for Bob and Lyn whereby they would pay them a wage for the rest of their lives. Pictured: Robert Jnr, Terri and Bindi Irwin
The mother of one wrote: ‘I really wish that my entire family could spend time with Grace [her baby daughter]. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family.’
She went on to claim that Bob had ‘returned gifts I’ve sent after he opened them’, and ignored any letters sent from her.
‘From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me, preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me,’ she continued.
‘He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart.’
She went on to say that her mother Terri still writes to him and sends birthday cards and Christmas gifts, but claims they have received no reply.
Feud: It comes after the Irwins’ daughter, Bindi, addressed her relationship with her estranged grandfather Bob in a scathing Facebook comment on Sunday, and claimed her family had been supporting Bob financially since 1992. Pictured: Bindi and her husband, Chandler Powell
‘We have also been his financial support since 1992 when he returned from Australia Zoo, sending him funds every week,’ she added.
‘We built him a house on a beautiful property and will always do our best to ensure his wellbeing.
‘I hope everyone remembers to be kind to one another but most of all care for your own mental health.
‘I have struggled with this relationship my entire life and it brings me enormous pain.’
Claims: When one fan asked why she hadn’t included her grandfather- Steve’s father, Bob (far right) – in her Father’s Day tribute, Bindi (far left) gave an uncharacteristically raw account of their relationship. Pictured with mother Terri (second right) and brother Robert (second left) in 2007, one year after Steve’s death
Speaking out: The mother-of-one wrote: ‘I really wish that my entire family could spend time with Grace. Unfortunately, my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family’
Following her harsh post, members of Bob’s inner circle fired back at Bindi.
Bethany Wheeler, another granddaughter of Bob’s by marriage, declared on Facebook: ‘The time has come to speak up.’
Ms Wheeler, whose stepmother Mandy is Bob’s daughter, defended her grandfather’s character, calling him ‘one of the most genuinely beautiful humans on this planet’ who has ‘never spoken out or put down anybody’.
Amanda French, a family friend who co-wrote Bob’s 2016 autobiography The Last Crocodile Hunter, also accused Bindi of assassinating her grandfather’s character.
‘To read the sad comments online today has sickened me, and people who are closest to him,’ Ms French wrote on Facebook.
She described Bob as ‘kind, gentle, generous and extremely f**king introverted’.
‘It has sickened me!’ Following her post, members of Bob’s inner circle have fired back at Bindi
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