“To celebrate Robert Irwin’s return after six months, we decided to have a bit of fun,” remarked Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Matt Stoeckel.
“Had Bindi Irwin been present, she would have likely done a double take,” he added.
A total of thirty contestants competed fiercely on Kings Beach, Caloundra, vying for the esteemed title and the accompanying bragging rights.
Robert Irwin lookalikes of various shapes and sizes showcased their best impressions on a beachside runway in front of an audience of 300 spectators.
Hopefuls aiming to impress the judges came equipped with a variety of props, including toy crocodiles, blonde wigs, and the signature khaki attire.
According to Stoeckel, winning the title required meeting stringent criteria, making the stakes quite high.
“You had to own the crikey with confidence, you had to have that Robert Irwin physique and really be able to entertain the crowd with a bit of dance moves and some croc wrestling,” he said.
Caloundra father Ben Marshall took out the coveted title.
His striking similarity helped him win $500 in cash but it was his dance moves that got him over the line.
“I was up all night practising, so yeah, I’m glad I took out the win,” Marshall said.
The real Robert took to social media to describe the contest as “classic”.
