Sweet success for Wellington Apiary with prestigious gong at Delicious magazine produce awards

FROM small beginnings, a Hobart couple has developed a national award-winning honey business.

Wellington Apiary owners, Robin O'Brien (right) and his wife, Antonia O'Brien with Apiculture apprentice, Nick Graham of Kingston(left) and some of their now famous honey.

FROM one beehive in the inner city to more than 80 hives in the Derwent Valley, a Hobart couple has developed a national award-winning honey business.

Wellington Apiary Prickly Box Honey has won the prestigious From the Earth, Artisan gong at the 10th Delicious magazine produce awards while its Leatherwood honey was also a finalist.

Wellington Apiary began in 2009, producing 300kg of honey, but last year produced about seven tonnes and owners Antonia and Robin O’Brien are planning to expand hive numbers to produce up to 12 tonnes.

They have 80 beehives at Meadowbank near Glenora and have stuck to the principles of producing natural premium quality products by keeping happy bees. The honey is creamed by hand.

A volunteer board member of non-for-profit Sprout Tasmania, which supports small producers to grow great Tasmanian food, Ms O’Brien said there was strong demand for all Wellington Apiary’s products.

“We are struggling to keep up with supply to gourmet food shops around Australia,” she said.

The hives are moved into prickly box and tea tree locations from November.