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Hog Bay Apiary
Location: South Terrace, Penneshaw
P.O. Box 250, Penneshaw S.A. 5222
Telephone: 08 85531237
Facsimile: 08 85531289
Email: hogbay@kin.net.au
Jim and Betty McAdam’s desire for a complete
change of lifestyle has resulted in one of Kangaroo Island’s
most valued honey producers. Jim and Betty started holidaying
on Kangaroo Island in the 1970s, as a break from their jobs as
a computer analyst/programmer and office manager in Adelaide.
Eventually they gave up their jobs and moved to the island, without
a clue of what they were going to do.
The McAdams bought two bee hives as a hobby, but
as neighbours and friends kept asking for more and more honey,
they registered the Hog Bay Apiary as a business in 1993. Hog
Bay Apiary honeys are now sold in Singapore, Japan and throughout
Australia, with increasing interest from customers in its certified
organic liquid honeys – Cup Gum, Eucalypt, Sugar Gum and
Wild Flower. Betty, who is also secretary of the Kangaroo Island
Beekeeping Association, says that in global terms, the island
is a very special place for making beautiful honeys.
Kangaroo Island is the oldest bee sanctuary in the
world. The wealth of native vegetation on the island, together
with its geographic isolation, ensure the honeys are recognised
and appreciated as a gourmet regional food. The pure strain of
Ligurian bee exists only on the island and is an invaluable genetic
resource. The bees thrive in the mild climate and have abundant
sources of nectar and pollen.The access to native vegetation,
such as sugar gum, pink gum, white mallee, cup gum, stringybark
and mallees, is vitally important as certified organic honey must
come from natural, not planted, nectar sources.
The isolation has also enabled the bees to remain
free of diseases that are present on the mainland, so no antibiotics
or other chemicals are used in apiary management.
Hog Bay Apiary has found that the pristine environment and disease-free
status are of increasing importance to customers overseas, and
also in Australia.
As well as its four organic liquid honeys, Hog Bay
Apiary produces a traditional creamed honey, made from spring
flowering pasture and food crops on Kangaroo Island. The products
are available through the island’s retail outlets. Hog Bay
Apiary’s organic honeys are certified by the National Association
of Sustainable Agriculture, Australia (NASAA).
The area from Island Beach to Antechamber
Bay provides far more than just the gateway to the Island.
Clean sand, safe swimming, secluded accommodation and spectacular
views are a few of the highlights of this area. The Chapman
River has beautiful camping and picnic areas to enjoy the
local food and wine.
Sunset Winery
features a wine and food tasting experience as well as regional
platters with spectacular views of Eastern Cove from the pristine
Island Beach to Kingscote. Kangaroo
Island Trout use the old Penneshaw reservoir to grow out their
trout.
Penneshaw is becoming a foodies destination with
numerous cafes and restaurants
offering local produce in season. Gourmet catering for the whole
Island is available from Fish / 2
Birds and a Squid.
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