Irwin empire growing year after Steve's deathBy staff writers
September 03, 2007 12:20pm

Tomorrow the anniversary of Steve Irwin's death
Australia Zoo the headline business act
Interactive timeline of Steve Irwin's life

TOMORROW marks a year since the sudden death of the seeminly indestructible Steve Irwin, speared in the chest by a stringray barb.
But he's still the biggest show in town. Irwin's memory has been perpetuated worldwide - none more so than on the Sunshine Coast, which over the past 12 months has reported a huge surge in tourist numbers.
The most popular destination is the Irwin family's Australia Zoo, the biggest privately run wildlife park in the country, an hour's drive north of Brisbane.
For many, it is a pilgrimage - not unlike the aura that now surrounds Princess Diana a decade after her death.
"Steve will be around for the next 30, 40 and 50 years - or even 100 years,'' long-time friend and manager John Stainton said.
"He will always be around. His personality was so strong in real life that it will last for centuries.
"We'll always remember him and his vision will always run around in his films and television series.''
Huge earnings
The Irwins have naturally been reluctant to discuss the full extent of their earnings and investments.
Property searches reveal thousands of hectares stretching across Queensland, some of it prime real estate.
The parcels include more than 33,000ha at St George, western Queensland, 1100ha at Emu Creek, northwest of Toowoomba, and 250ha at Googa Creek, between Kingaroy and Caboolture.
Other vast tracts of land have been secured for conservation purposes through Wildlife Warriors, Irwin's publicly registered charity, such as the 32,000ha near Roma, 515km west of Brisbane.

Six years ago, according to BRW's Top 50 Entertainers List, their yearly earnings were estimated at more than $16 million.
This was generated from local and overseas sales of his Crocodile Hunter TV series, product endorsements and merchandise sales.
A year later the Irwins' were ranked fifth on BRW's table of the highest-paid Australian entertainers.
In 2004, Irwin slid to 19th place with just over $4 million, and the following year dropped another place with $4 million.
Their movie The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course, was a big contributor, reportedly taking about $40 million at the box office.
Irwin's daughter Bindi is also becoming a valuable commercial commodity - presenting a 26-series wildlife documentary called Bindi The Jungle Girl on the Discovery Kids TV network, and launching her own clothing line.
Headline act
The headline business act is the 120ha Australia Zoo, run by his widow, Terri, with up to a million visitors a year, making it one of Queensland's top attractions.
Added to the gate takings are the profits from merchandise such as Crocodile Hunter whisky glasses and snow domes.
There are also Crocs Rule tea towels, Steve Jumbo Pencils, drink bottles, board games, Steve Irwin figurine keychains, magnets, drink coasters and plates.
The zoo's success has confounded those who immediately feared tourism would suffer after Irwin's death.
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh commented at the time that Queensland would be seen as a dangerous destination.
"It will add to our international reputation as the place where you get eaten by sharks and bitten by snakes,'' she said.
But her fears were unfounded. Tourism Australia figures reveal that for the year ending March, 2007 there were 263,072 visitors to the Sunshine Coast, an 18 per cent increase on the previous year.
Australia Zoo is the area's biggest employer, with 550 on staff, and it pumps millions of dollars into the local economy.
Steve Irwin's legacy lives on.