BGC The Apiary

The Brisbane Golf Club Bees

The Brisbane Golf Club has welcomed some new residents – a thriving colony of European honeybees! Our new apiary is located in a quiet spot between the 11th tee and the 12th fairway, and it promises to bring environmental, educational, and even culinary benefits to the Club.

The Importance of Bees

Bees are crucial pollinators for crops, fruit trees and flowers. Without them, much of our food supply and natural ecosystem would struggle. Sadly, the global bee population is under threat, so having healthy hives on site is our way of helping nature while also enjoying some delicious rewards – the Club restaurant will soon be able to serve fresh honey straight from our bees.

European Honey Bees

Australia has many native bee species, but they produce only small amounts of honey. European honey bees, by contrast, are both excellent honey producers and highly effective pollinators, making them ideal for our apiary.

Life Inside the Hive

Our bees live in a special Flow Hive, an Australian invention that makes collecting honey simple. At first, the bees are building their home in the brood box, where the queen lays her eggs and young bees develop. Once that is full, a top box (called a “super”) will be added for honey storage.

At peak times, each hive can produce 18–20 kilograms of honey per harvest, and thanks to the Flow Hive system, the honey flows directly from the hive into a container when ready – pure, fresh, and untouched.

Daily Work of the Bees

Honey bees are incredibly hard workers. A foraging bee can fly up to 23 km/h, usually staying within a 5 km radius of the hive. On a single trip she may visit 200–300 flowers, and in one day as many as 2,000.

Conditions for Thriving

The golf course provides an excellent environment for bees, with water and nectar-bearing plants in abundance. They are most active in spring and summer, when flowers are in bloom. The hives will be inspected regularly to ensure the colony remains healthy.

Bee Safety at the Club

Honey bees are generally docile if left undisturbed, and members are at no greater risk than they would be living near suburban backyard beekeepers. Clear signage has been installed, and there is no need for anyone to approach the hives.

Most stings cause only mild reactions, eased with antihistamines or cool compresses. People with known severe allergies should carry an epinephrine auto-injector such as an EpiPen and seek urgent medical attention. The Club cannot store or administer these devices.

Fascinating Bee Facts

• Bees flap their wings 200–250 times per second, creating the familiar buzz.
• The queen bee can lay up to 2,000 eggs a day.
• Bees regulate hive temperature at 34–36°C year-round.
• Bees communicate through the waggle dance, showing others where to find nectar.

Where Our Bees Come From

The hives were started with bees from a certified queen breeder, supplied with five frames containing 6,000–9,000 bees and their queen. BGC member Stephen Muncey, an experienced beekeeper, is overseeing the project with guidance from a local mentor with over 20 years of experience.

A Sweet Future for BGC

The bees at Brisbane Golf Club are more than just honey-makers – they are vital pollinators, environmental allies, and a delightful addition to our course. Before long, members will enjoy honey harvested right here at BGC, thanks to the tireless work of our newest winged residents.