Monday, 28 March 2011

Terri Irwin sells properties as Australia Zoo struggles - news.com.au

27 Mar 2011

Steve Irwin's widow Terri has been quietly selling off Australian properties from a multimillion-dollar portfolio amassed by the star couple, The (Brisbane) Sunday Mail reported.


In a sign Australia Zoo has hit hard times, the widow of "The Crocodile Hunter" star has placed several properties on the Sunshine Coast -- a coastal region in Queensland about 62 miles (100km) south of Brisbane -- on the market.

A number of zoo exhibits are on hold or delayed.

Ms Irwin has admitted a horrific wet summer drastically hit visitor numbers and forced job cuts at the major tourist destination on the Sunshine Coast region of Beerwah.


An investigation revealed the 46-year-old American-born Ms Irwin has been trying to offload properties since late last year, many at a loss.

Four of them directly border the zoo in Beerwah, and were originally purchased back when expansion plans were at full throttle.


A sprawling 234-acre (95-hectare) parcel at Peachester, with views of the Glass House Mountains in the coastal region, is the largest for sale with a $1.25 million price tag.


Ms Irwin has also sold a $1.3 million luxury property, at a $380,000 loss, next to the family's $3.22 million home at Minyama, the Sunshine Coast's millionaire's row.


At the time of his death in 2006, Steve Irwin and Terri had amassed a property portfolio estimated at $20 million.


(The cynical side of me says... 'I'm not surprised...' I never felt she had the same vision as Steve.)



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