Crikey! History uncovered
12:00a.m. 9 June 2008

Documents which provide a rare insight into the very early days of Australia Zoo have been discovered amongst a pile of old files in a government office in Ingham.

The original permit application to remove crocodiles from North Queensland, made in 1989 and 1990, were found by staff at the Environmental Protection Agency and have since been framed and presented to Bob Irwin by the minister for sustainability, climate change and innovation, Andrew McNamara.

“Staff at the EPA’s Ingham office realised, when they dusted off the files, that they were looking at early applications made by the Irwins for permits to remove estuarine crocodiles,” Mr McNamara said.

“The permits, to relocate estuarine crocodiles from Ingham to the Queensland Reptile Park at Beerwah on the Sunshine Coast, were issued by the then Queensland National Parks and Wildlife Service.

“The crocodiles were removed from waterways between Crystal Creek and the Burdekin River, and transported by road, rail and air to the Queensland Reptile Park.”

Crocodiles captured in the operation are believed to include some of the zoo’s current star attractions Agro, Monty and Acco.

A delighted Mr Irwin was quoted yesterday as saying he planned to hang the framed permits in the home he is building near Kingaroy.

“The thing I really appreciate is that this so easily could have been thrown away or misplaced,” he said. “It was a time when Steve and I were working side-by-side, as father and son.

“It was an exciting time for us.”

Mr McNamara said the Ingham office staff were pleased that a small part of the legacy left by Steve Irwin was found in their corner of the world.