Hill River Honey and Mead

06/06/2026

We puff smoke to settle the bees, to avoid them getting defensive and dying by stinging us. They think "bushfire" so they take a big drink in case they need to evacuate. I videoed them drinking today... you can see their proboscis (tongue) which is like a straw for them to drink up the honey (and nectar when out foraging).
Aren't they cute?

06/06/2026

Just before the weather hits, we wanted to check some hives today and we had a busy morning:
1. Our Organic Hair Shed hive is doing very well, so we have upgraded them from a nucleus hive to an eight frame box. Lots of brood stock well distributed in the frames so the queen is doing a great job. Very happy.
2. Then we checked a hive around the corner on another property nearby. They have gone from a single box captured from an old oven to a fully stocked double storey hive with enough honey to get them through winter.
3. We then checked on a rescue from a cardboard box. It was a bit messier but we obviously captured the queen as they have also filled out a box and are growing nicely. I use lacky bands to hold the layer of hive they have built themselves which has brood stock into a standard frame for them to fill it out. They did that, then removed the lacky bands.

A couple of ladies got the full tour of our Hive today and left with some honey and wax based products to enjoy. We took our new mate Jack along for the drive to check the box hive as well as the oven hive so he could see our work up close.

We really love showing how the bees work. It's not a job, it's a passion.

Nap time now!

01/06/2026

What happens to the bee when it stings you?

Bees do not seek to sting you unless they feel they need to protect their hive. They start by giving you some warning signs: more aggressive flying, bumping you. The hive can even change their buzzing sound, it goes from a pleasant humm to a serious warning.

When they sting, the stinger or ovipositor is plunged into the person or animal. The stinger has sharp blade-like edges that stick in the skin. When the bee withdraws, her abdomen is actually ripped out along with the venom sack. The venom sack continues to pump. Ideally, you want to scrape the sting away rather than pull on it, so that you don't squeeze that sac and pump more venom into your body.

Unfortunately, the bee dies. We like to aim to keep our ladies happy so we don't unintentionally kill them. We try to work quickly and efficiently. We don't open hives when it's cold or rainy. We speak to them often so they know our pheromones, I even sing to them sometimes 😉... not sure if they appreciate that but I've never been stung when I sing...

20/05/2026

🐝 Happy National Bee Day! 🏵
We love watching the bees that live in our aviary log patch their home with propolis when the weather gets cold then remove it to let the air flow on hotter days.
We monitor the bees activities to gauge the weather and Peter has been sharing his thoughts with farmers for years.
How do they know?

16/05/2026

🐝Peter and Bec rescued two swarms today around Jurien Heights.🐝
📦One was inside a cardboard box. We picked up the whole box and took it back to our property before transferring it into a hive there.
✂️The other was at the Organic Hair Shed Jurien Bay where Noelz captured our capture and relocation of her friends who had outstayed their welcome.
Both swarms will get themselves set up for the winter now. Hopefully they'll be comfortable at our place and grow their family in Spring. We will upgrade their homes as they grow. Brood stock in a bottom box then honey we can harvest in a top box.
Happy hives in the Heights

a nice easy swarm capture in Jurien Heights

02/05/2026

What a beautiful season! Good long nectar flows, plenty of wax to make wraps and enough honey to make extra vats of mead😃😃

04/04/2026

Come and see is at the Easter Fair

25/03/2026

Hill River Honey will be at the Jurien Bay Men's Shed Easter Fair again this year. Many local floral varieties will be available including Blackbutt, Banksia and Red Gum, along with candles, beeswax soap, lip balm and HONEY ICE CREAM!
Our hives are located on properties within 30 km of Jurien Bay including our property in Jurien Heights where you can also taste and purchase Mead wine and liqueur. Bring your own container for Honey at $12 per kilo or in our tubs for $14. Hill River Honey is also sold in our local IGA.

27/02/2026

Our honey is now coming from Red Gum as well as the Banksia and Blackbutt. Monofloral honeys can clearly show the differences in flavour, colour and texture. Taste the difference!😃

17/02/2026

Wow! Chinese New Year and we have visitors from Taiwan. I grabbed a frame from a hive that was robbed 6 weeks ago to show them what happens. They had beautiful fresh honey and a taste of mead. It's certainly been a great harvest for us and with their presents they bought today, it will be a great New Year for them too!😄😄