Meeting the bees at Arthur River
A morning walk through the apiary at the edge of the rainforest, with our third-generation keeper.
Written by
Tom, field notes
The road in stops about three kilometres before the apiary. The rest is on foot, through a strip of dripping ferns and over a fallen myrtle log the size of a small car. By the time you can hear the hives, you can smell them — warm beeswax and rainforest in one inhalation.
Sarah, the keeper, has been doing this since she was eight. Her grandfather built the first ten hives here in 1962. There are 124 now. None of them are kept for show.
I asked about loss rates. She didn’t answer at first. Then: “We try not to count the ones we lose. We count the swarms we catch.” Behind her, two scouts circled a brood box, deciding.
About the author
Tom, field notes
Contributor
A storyteller from the family — sharing what we learn on the ridge, in the rainforest, and in the kitchen.
More from the journal
-
Field NotesInside the 2026 leatherwood bloom
A rainy spring meant a slower flow — but the depth of flavour we've waited for.
Jun 20 Read -
Field NotesSpring at the Corinna apiary
A first inspection of the 24 hives we overwintered on the Pieman River.
Mar 25 Read -
Field NotesThe bees that came back
A hive we thought we had lost showed up at the gate, three weeks later, with a queen.
Mar 15 Read
Notes from the hive, in your inbox.
A monthly dispatch — what is in season, what we are learning, and the recipe we are eating this month.
One email a month. Unsubscribe anytime.