Hog Bay Apiary

Location: South Terrace, Penneshaw
P.O. Box 250, Penneshaw S.A. 5222
Telephone: 08 85531237
Facsimile: 08 85531289
Website: http://www.users.on.net/~hogbay/index.htm
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.