In a heartfelt resignation letter, Mr Irwin has told of his difficult decision to leave the conservation and tourism operation he helped build over 36 years.
His departure follows claims by zoo staff and volunteers of a feud with Terri Irwin over treatment of staff, management of Wildlife Warriors and the commercial direction of the world-famous attraction.
Mr Irwin provided his statement yesterday, angry that zoo management had refused to make it public on Friday, instead sending out words "that were not his".
In the 300-word letter, he talks about his desire to continue "Steve's dream" at a new property he has bought near Kingaroy, 209km northwest of Brisbane.
He thanks zoo staff, Animal Hospital workers, Wildlife Warriors and "all Steve's friends out there", but makes no reference to Terri or her contribution to his son's conservation empire or to the raising of Mr Irwin's grandchildren Bindi and Bob.
Mr Irwin pays tribute to his son, who died after a stingray's barb pierced his heart in September 2006.
"You may rest assured that Judy (Bob's partner) and I will continue with Steve's dream, with the passion and commitment he would expect," he said.
Terri, Zoo director Wes Mannion and family manager John Stainton have refused to comment on Mr Irwin's departure, or claims of a rift.
Part of the official statement from the zoo on Friday read: "Bob is a gentleman of retirement age and we fully support and love him dearly . . . These rumours (of a rift) need to end in respect to the Irwin family."
Rumours of an Irwin family feud have been circulating since January and volunteers and a disgruntled employee have recently claimed staff were upset that Mr Irwin had been banned from the zoo after an argument with Terri.
In an unrelated matter, Terri Irwin and the Australia Zoo could face a tax investigation in the wake of multi-million dollar civil lawsuits against them.
Australian Taxation Office officials were seen attending preliminary hearings at the Victorian County Court last week.
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