Australia Zoo is owned by Terri Irwin, the widow of the late Steve Irwin, and is operated by the Irwin family through their company structure.

Who actually “owns” Australia Zoo?

  • The zoo business itself is run through Australia Zoo Pty Ltd, which is controlled by Terri Irwin and the Irwin family.
  • Terri became the sole owner and chairperson of Australia Zoo after Steve Irwin’s death in 2006 and has continued to lead the organisation.
  • Day‑to‑day operations and public leadership also prominently involve their children, Bindi and Robert Irwin, who have taken on management and media roles at the zoo.

Land vs business ownership

  • The operating zoo business (animals, branding, staff, shows) is owned by Australia Zoo Pty Ltd, associated with the Irwin family.
  • The land the zoo sits on, and much of the surrounding area, is held by a separate company, Silverback Properties Pty Ltd, which is also linked to the Irwin interests.

Are there plans to sell Australia Zoo?

  • Over the years there have been recurring media rumours about a possible sale, including speculation about large entertainment companies (like Disney) being potential buyers.
  • Publicly, Terri Irwin has repeatedly stated that she has no plans to sell Australia Zoo and has instead focused on expanding and strengthening its conservation mission.

Quick forum‑style take

“Who owns the Australia Zoo?”
In simple terms, it’s still very much the Irwin family’s zoo, with Terri legally at the helm and Bindi and Robert increasingly in the spotlight as the next generation of public‑facing caretakers.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.