‘He’s not just a picture’: Robert Irwin’s emotional moment with dad

Robert Irwin became emotional when he saw the wax figure of his father Steve Irwin for the first time. Robert held back tears while visiting Madam Tussauds on Sydney’s Darling Harbour on Thursday for the unveiling of his own wax figure. When it came time to take a look at his father’s wax figure, the 20-year-old said he needed to take a moment. “It’s a lot to take in,” Robert said. “Honestly, that actually, actually hit me … that’s weird, that’s pretty spot on – that’s actually really spot on. “That is amazing, it’s the first time in a long time he’s not just a picture.” The conservationist said it was “surprisingly emotional” looking at the wax figure of his father, who tragically died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray. “Wow, haven’t seen him in 18 years,” he said. “Sorry, wow wasn’t expecting that.” Madam Tussauds have been working for nearly a year to create a wax figure of Robert Irwin, with the 20-year-old at Darling Harbour for the reveal on Thursday morning. Irwin said his mission has always been to continue the legacy of his father as well as forge his own path, with being immortalised in wax meaning a lot to him. “It really means a lot to my message, to my mission, to my purpose, to hopefully inspire others – particularly young people – that it doesn’t matter where you are, you can create change,” he said. “Everything I do started from one bloke, one young bloke, little eight-year-old, moved up from Victoria, started a little roadside reptile park, and then became a crocodile hunter, I mean, the biggest voice in conservation. “And the fact that you honour dad here too means a lot, it’s special.” His wax figure is complete with a woma python resting on a camera in his hand, with Irwin revealing the personal story behind the choice of the snake. “It’s the most special snake, and actually one of my very favourite animals,” he said. “This is an animal that was my dad’s favourite, and he actually went out and secured an area of about 118,000 acres of land that he set aside as a natural preserve for Woma pythons because they’re endangered in a lot of their range. “And so the Woma python is not only a really beautiful snake and really striking and gorgeous, but it’s kind of a little personal token.” The wax figure took nine months to create, with Robert calling the length of time it took to create the wax figure of himself “fitting”. “It’s fitting that it’s nine months, you know, it’s like this little baby entering the world,” he said. “I’m so excited for him to spread his wings and get out there, and empty nest, it’s going to be hard.” He revealed he was told he had a strange resemblance to Harry Styles during the creation of his wax figure. “‘Oh your gums are sort of Harry Styles’, and I went ‘Oh, wow, okay thanks … I’ll take it,’” he laughed. “It was really, really surreal.” When it came time for the big reveal, Irwin said he was “speechless” for the first time. “That’s a good looking young rooster right there, isn’t it,” he joked. “You have absolutely captured the essence of Robert Irwin.” He said the wax figure has captured every detail of himself down to his outfit and elbow scar. “This is my actual boots, I got the shiniest ones that I had to make sure he’s looking the part. “I got the only khaki shirt that doesn’t have a hole or a button missing.”