HONEY I'm Home

Raw, local honey tastes incredible drizzled across your crumpets –but bees play a far more important role, with a whopping two-thirds of Australia’s agricultural production relying on them for pollination. So, let’s meet some of the passionate beekeepers caring for these hard-working little insects…

Blue Tree Honey Farm found his niche. After learning the trade alongside generational local beekeepers, Ben and his wife Stacey, alongside friends, Ian and Robyn Cane, bought Tambo Valley Honey in 2018. Just 18 months later, the East Gippsland bushfires wiped out 200 of their hives, along with much of the native forest that provided for the bees.

Blue Tree Honey Farm sits just five minutes from the foodie haven of Meeniyan, South Gippsland. Rob and Sharon Fisher’s unique farm gate café is set on a working farm, complete with cows lowing in the valleys and free-ranging chickens.

Their honey is sourced from beehives on the farm and the surrounding region. The flavour distinctly expresses nearby flora with the range including red gum, tea tree, banksia and clover.

The farm gate café stocks a delicious range of homemade jams, jellies, preserves and sauces, all made from produce grown on their farm or sourced nearby. Settle in for coffee, cake, or Devonshire tea with homemade scones and jam. You can even watch the bees in action in their seasonal indoor observation hive!

Despite this setback, Tambo Valley Honey has prospered. Last year they opened their shop and licensed café in Bruthen, a gorgeous space with exposed beams and polished wooden benchtops. Order from the honeyinspired menu and stock up on honey confectionary, skincare and beeswax products. Be sure to try a tipple of their honey gin collaboration with Bancroft Bay Distillery or their Sailors Grave Brewing collab, Honey Bush Braggot.

Tambo Valley Honey

Ben Murphy grew up in bakeries, spent several years in butchery, but beekeeping was where he really

Supporting local beekeepers keeps this vital industry thriving, check out the farm gates map on page 06 to get some Gippsland honey in your hamper. BLUE