Has Australia forgotten Steve Irwin already?

A statue of Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin could end up overseas because no one in Australia wants to buy it, says its creator. Controversial sculptor Mitch Mitchell has now approached TV queen Oprah Winfrey and the Discovery Channel to see if they are interested.

Mitchell, who is at the centre of an Easter row over his sculpture of a naked young woman on a crucifix, is stunned at the rejection of his Irwin tribute. "He's a Melburnian and he's the most famous Australian there's probably ever been," he said.

"It should stay in Melbourne. It's the place of his birth and he deserves to be honoured, but nobody here wants to buy it."



The larger-than-life sculpture, with an asking price of $85,000, is stored at a Richmond studio. Once a buyer is found Mitchell will make the finishing touches before having it cast in bronze. The 2m clay form shows Irwin crouching in his trademark khakis and holding a small crocodile.

Mitchell had hoped the statue would take pride of place in Moonee Ponds, where Irwin spent the first eight years of his life. But Moonee Valley Council rejected the statue last year.

Graeme Smith, who helped Mitchell sell statues said he spent 12 months trying to find a buyer for the Irwin sculpture. "It's unbelievable. I'm bewildered with the lack of enterprise shown," he said. "If you put that in a central position, the tourism, particularly from Japan and America, would be huge. We're talking millions of people. It could be very enterprising and educational."