Beekeeping for Beginners

Beekeeping for Beginners

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Posted 2016-09-20 by Gayle Beveridge-Marienfollow
[SECTION]Beekeeping Can Be A Relaxing and Rewarding Hobby[/SECTION]

Have you ever though you might like to keep bees, to have your own backyard hive. Imagine drizzling your breakfast toast with honey collected in your own garden. It's not just the great taste you'll be enjoying but the health benefits of this nutritional food.


Then there's the increased production of flowers and fruit in your garden and those of your neighbours as a result of having the bees to hand. Don't forget the beeswax, honey isn't all a hive produces. Beeswax can be used to polish wood, to make soap, candles, and lip balm.

Then there is the joy of the bees themselves. Watching them come and go from the hive, their legs clothed in bulging pollen trousers, can be mesmerising.

You're inspired and ready to go but before you rush out and buy a hive there are some basics that you should know. A neglected hive will not produce well and bees may become diseased. There are a number of courses and training packages run around Melbourne where you can learn about beekeeping, get an insight into this rewarding pastime and judge your passion for it.


Before we start our list a quick warning about allergies. While many people can tolerate bee stings and even become more tolerant to them over time some are allergic to bee venom with rapid and dire consequences. If this is you, seek a different hobby.

There are also rules and regulations around beekeeping. Your course will likely detail these for you but in the meantime the Victorian Apiarists Association has a wealth of information on their website.

[SECTION]Bee Scientifics (Greater Melbourne)[/SECTION]

Bee Scientifics offers courses, training and field days throughout Victoria. In addition to planned course times they are open to organising local classes for groups of ten or more, so find ten like-minded folks in your street or community.


Their Beginning Beekeeping Course will address
  • bees in the environment,
  • honey bee biology,
  • pest and disease biology,
  • required equipment,
  • handling bees with confidence and safety,
  • seasonal hive management,
  • apiary code of practice,
  • integrated pest management,
  • honey harvesting, and
  • hive products.

  • [BREAK]
    Bee Scientifics are a group dedicated to promoting honey bee health which they achieve through research and education. In addition to training for beginners they provide consultation services to commercial beekeepers with regard to breeding and best practice beekeeping.

    Course locations will be advised. Cost and other enquiries can be made via the website .

    [SECTION]The Beekeepers Club (Doncaster)[/SECTION]

    The Beekeepers Club supports beekeepers in The Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne. Their Beginners Course is carried out over three interactive classroom sessions and a weekend hive opening activity. The course is aimed at newcomers and sets out to teach the background knowledge and practical skills required for successful beekeeping.


    Membership in the club gives access to regular meetings and includes a Juniors Program. With the assistance of The Beekeepers Club enthusiasts can learn not only hive maintenance but how to construct hives and frames and develop their skills through information sharing and field trips. Family memberships are available.


    The club rooms are at 895-901 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster. Costs (Sept 2016) are Club Members $130.00, Junior Members $95.00, Non-Members $200.00 and Non-Members Family Package $360.00. Fees for non-members include membership. The club can be contacted via their website or by email on [email protected].

    [SECTION]Bob's Beekeeping Courses (Eltham)[/SECTION]

    Bob's Beekeeping Courses are carried out at Edendale Community Environment Farm. A Taster Course runs for two and a half hours and helps you to decide if beekeeping is truly the hobby for you. The Beginning Beekeeping Course is run regularly on Sundays and aims to acquaint the hobby beekeeper with all the knowledge they need to get started.


    Topics covered are
  • the history of beekeeping,
  • different types of bees,
  • the life of a bee colony through the year,
  • parts of a beehive,
  • clothing and equipment required,
  • looking after bees in your hive,
  • what to do during spring and summer,
  • what to do during autumn and winter,
  • extracting honey,
  • where to get your first bees,
  • pests and diseases of the honey bee,
  • legal requirements, and will include
  • a hive inspection (subject to weather conditions on the day)


  • Advanced Beekeeping and Queen Rearing Courses are also on offer. Edendale Farm is at 30 Gastons Rd, Eltham. The Taster Course is managed by Edendale Farm . They can be contacted on (03) 9433 3711. Bob's Beginner Beekeeping Course costs (Sept 2016) $220.00. Further details are available on the website , by emailing [email protected] or by telephoning (03) 9439 5910.

    [SECTION]CERES (Brunswick)[/SECTION]

    CERES , the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies, is a community environment park that has a focus on sustainability education.


    They run a Backyard Beekeeping Workshop which teaches
  • the inner workings of a hive,
  • how to maintain a hive,
  • how to keep swarms in check and
  • the healing properties of raw honey
  • and weather permitting will include a hive opening.

  • The courses are held at CERES Market Area, Stewart Street, Brunswick East. Costs (Sept 2016) are Full Fee $120.00 and Bring-A-Friend-Ticket $105.00. Bookings can be made via the website .

    [SECTION]Perm-Apiculture Beekeeping Group (Mitcham)[/SECTION]

    Perm-Apiculture Beekeeping Group offers two day, hands on Introduction to Natural Beekeeping Courses aimed at the backyard small scale beekeeper.


    The courses instructs on
  • safety in beekeeping,
  • the biology of the bee,
  • controlling and handling swarms,
  • types of hives,
  • beekeeping equipment,
  • maintaining the hive throughout the year,
  • harvesting the hive,
  • wax production,
  • bee diseases and enemies and
  • the legalities of beekeeping.


  • If you do not have a hive, the group can assist you to set one up during the swarming season when bees can be provided at no cost. Details of course locations will be advised as courses are organised. The cost (Sept 2016) is $250.00 for non-Permaculture Victoria members and $200.00 for Permaculture Victoria members. The group can be contacted via their website.

    [SECTION]Southside Beekeepers Club (Mount Martha)[/SECTION]

    Southside Beekeepers Club runs a regular two day Introduction to Beekeeping Course aimed at the hobby beekeeper and encompassing both theory and practice.


    The main points touched on by the course are
  • hive components,
  • beekeeping tools of trade,
  • safety and protection,
  • bee handling,
  • disease detection and prevention,
  • the bee life cycle,
  • types of bees in the hive and
  • collecting honey.


  • Courses are held in the Visitors Centre at the Briars Homestead, Nepean Highway, Mount Martha. Costs (Sept 2016) for the course are $120.00. For insurance purposes non-members will need to add the cost of membership to the fee. Annual membership is $40.00 for a single or $60.00 for a Double/Family plus a $10.00 joining fee. Course applications can be made via the website . Membership enquiries can also be made via the website.

    [SECTION]Upper Beaconsfield Apiaries[/SECTION]

    Upper Beaconsfield Apiaries offers a one day Beginner Beekeeping Course during the warmer times of the year when the beehives can be opened without disrupting the temperature control of the hive.


    This hands on course will cover
  • beekeeping equipment,
  • the hive,
  • the biology of the bee,
  • species of honeybee in Australia,
  • the flower and its relevance to the bee,
  • swarming causes and prevention,
  • bee pests and diseases,
  • how bees communicate in the hive,
  • backyard bees and the Apiary Code of Practice, and
  • registration requirements and food safety issues.

  • The course will be held at the Upper Beaconsfield Apiaries property. The cost (Sept 2016) are $200.00. Upper Beaconsfield Apiaries can be contacted via their website or by telephoning (03) 5944 4306 or 0448 916 566.

    [SECTION]The Bunyip Beekeeper (Greater Melbourne)[/SECTION]

    The Bunyip Beekeeper gives newcomers a perfect in to beekeeping. The business provides a hive leasing service where they not only supply the hives but manage the colony and extract the honey. They use the calmer more docile variety of bees, the Ligurian Bees. In addition to enjoying all the benefits of having a hive the new beekeeper is welcome to observe and learn as the hives are checked.


    The Bunyip Beekeeper also has tailored hive maintenance packages which include onsite training with your own hives.

    The Bunyip Beekeeper comes to you. Fees for the leasing service are discussed on the website Hive Renting page where you will find a detailed enquiry form. Fees for the hive maintenance and training packages are discussed on the website Maintenance page.

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    134611 - 2023-06-13 10:49:29

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