WHERE TO BUY STINGLESS BEES IN AUSTRALIA

Aussie Bee > Buy a Hive or Nest of Australian Native Stingless Bees:Tetragonula (previously called Trigona) and Austroplebeia

-- Top ten questions about Australian stingless bees
-- How to care for a nest or box of stingless bees
-- Stingless bee honey
-- Crop pollination with stingless bees

An Australian Tetragonula Stingless Bee - just 4 mm long.

Aussie Bee has received many emails and letters over the years from people keeping native Australian stingless bees. Often the stories are about thriving hives but sometimes there are sad tales about hives which have died.

It is always very upsetting to lose a hive. Some causes include:
-- Very cold temperatures and frosts that chill the brood;
-- Cold winds that chill foraging bees and prevent them returning safely to the hive;
-- Prolonged periods of cold weather that cause hives to run out of food;
-- Very hot temperatures that kill bees and cause hives to melt;
-- Keeping species outside of their natural geographic range.

To help avoid the loss of stingless bee hives it is important to choose the correct species and hive designs. In the page below, we have grouped together hive sellers whose species and box designs, in our experience, best suit particular areas of Queensland and New South Wales. Our recommendations for other states are also given below.

DISCLAIMER: The Australian Native Bee Research Centre does not receive commissions from any hive sellers for sales of stingless bees. The Australian Native Bee Research Centre has taken every care to provide accurate and current information in this webpage. However, the publisher or editor will not accept responsibility for injury, loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of the material in this webpage.

Northern Queensland • Southern Queensland & Warm Areas of NSW • Cooler Areas of NSW • ACT • Victoria • Tasmania • South Australia • Western Australia • Northern Territory

NORTHERN QUEENSLAND
Tetragonula hockingsi
Previously called Trigona hockingsi
(A common species in coastal areas of Queensland, especially north of Bundaberg; not recommended for NSW or areas of Queensland below the Brisbane River)

Paul Anderson, Cardwell QLD (in logs & boxes)
Phone: 0419 722 674; 07 4066 8718

Gary Ashe, Calliope near Gladstone QLD (in logs)
Phone: 0402 869 220

Chris Fuller, Kin Kin QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 5485 4454
Email: info@nativebees.com.au
Website: www.nativebees.com.au

Ingrid Dimock, Lifestyle Centre, Samford Valley QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0435 226 912
Email: info@mycitygarden.com.au
Website: mycitygarden.com.au
Website: www.citychicks.com.au
Also suppies empty hives with honey collection cups, onsite splitting service and presentations about the bees to gardening clubs, community gardens and educational facilities

Sarah Hamilton, Bee Yourself, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0433 226 791
Email: sarah@beeyourself.com.au
Website: www.beeyourself.com.au
Pick up from North Brisbane. Courier service to most of east coast. Established splittable and honey pot hives, empty boxes and hive tools, Roof and stand options, books and posters, educational services, rescue and splitting services.

Kevin Stiller, Brighton, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 3869 3770
Email: kevinstiller@optusnet.com.au
Note: Kevin says he is having problems replying to emails from hotmail and some other services, due to issues with his optusnet server. He asks customers to please phone him, if they do not receive a reply to their email.

ABeeC Hives - Australian Native Beehives, Brisbane, QLD (empty boxes only)
Phone: 07 3206 0552
Email: info@abeec.com.au
Website: www.abeec.com.au
Supplier of empty Australian Native Beehives and Accessories. Pickup available from Capalaba, 4157.

BeeBeesNativeBees (Brian Burnett) Forest Glen, Sunshine Coast, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0418 710 423
Email: beebeesnativebees@gmail.com
Pickup from Forest Glen on Sunshine Coast. Delivery to majority of east coast Qld. Well established three compartment hives made totally of Cypress.

Tony Williams, Garbutt, North QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 4779 7076
Hives in painted boxes with Perspex viewing plate.

Lloyd Younger, Younger's Native Bees, Central QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0437 727 657
Email: rockyyoungers@hotmail.com
Instagram: Youngersnativebees
Facebook: Younger’s Native Bees
Rescue and relocation of native beehives. Hive hire for crop pollination. Established Hockingsi boxed hives. Educational presentations to schools and groups.

Beloved Bees, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 3063 9633
Email: hello@belovedbees.com.au
Website: www.belovedbees.com.au
Supplier of empty OATH Australian native beehives, accessories and books. Pickup available from Sheldon, 4157 or can be shipped out.

Beau Spinks, Currumbin, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0402 090 603
Email: beau@thebeegarden.com.au
Website: www.thebeegarden.com.au
Hive sales, pollination services, commercial sales and community engagement programs.

Greg and Jen Ashby, Bay Hill Kurrimine Beach, Nth QLD.
Phone: 0402 751 555
Facebook: Be'anu Native Bees
Supplying Northern Hockingsi and Sapiens. Also providing rescue and relocation services.

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND and WARM AREAS OF NSW
i.e. the far north of NSW and coastal areas down to the mid north coast

Tetragonula carbonaria
Previously called Trigona carbonaria
(Common in southern Queensland and NSW)
and/or
Tetragonula hockingsi
Previously called Trigona hockingsi
(A common species in coastal areas of Queensland, especially north of Bundaberg; not recommended for NSW or areas of Queensland below the Brisbane River)

Russell and Janine Zabel, Hatton Vale QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0404 892 139
Email: bees@zabel.com.au
Website: https://www.zabel.com.au/

Tim Heard, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 3844 4914
Email: tim@sugarbag.net
Website: https://sugarbag.net/

Peter Davenport, Elanora QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 5533 9383

Vince Ashe, Crows Nest QLD (in logs)
Phone: 07 4698 1701

Tony Goodrich, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 3878 2322
Mobile: 0449 746 970
Email: goodrichbees@gmail.com
Also supplies OATH hive boxes.

Col Webb, Brassall QLD (in logs & boxes)
Phone: 07 3201 7083
Email: coje1122@bigpond.net.au

Mark Grosskopf, Maryvale QLD (in boxes with new queens)
Phone: 0438 623 734

Chris Fuller, Kin Kin QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 5485 4454
Email: info@nativebees.com.au
Website: www.nativebees.com.au

John Waters, Bardon QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0484 930 718
Email: yodaregen@fastmail.fm

Frank Adcock, Nashua, Northern Rivers area, NSW (in boxes)
Nashua Native Bees - BN98483071
Email: nnbees@bigpond.com
NNBees is a registered vendor to NSW Government schools. Supplies hives and provides presentations to pre-schools, primary schools and high schools. Sells both Non-splitable and Splitable western red cedar hives. A booklet "Getting Started with The Australian Native Stingless Bee" also comes with your first hive. Hives are pick up from Nashua.

Matthew Middleton, near Toowoomba, QLD (in boxes and logs)
Website: beezotted.com.au
Email: mahoolia@hotmail.com
Sells colonies in artistically carved logs with honey supers - functional art; can be made to order with your designs! Honey also for sale.

Melissa Ballantyne, 'Sydney Stingless Bees' (in boxes)
Phone: 0439 817 555
Website: www.sydneystinglessbees.com.au
Email: sydneystinglessbees@gmail.com
Located in QLD but specialising in supplying hives for Sydney.

Jim Patch, 'Aussie Bee Patch', Alstonville, Nth NSW (in boxes)
Phone: 0481 398 765
Email: aussiebeepatch@gmail.com
Strong Tetragonula carbonaria hives for sale and durable/solid timber 'Oath' hive boxes, easily converted to honey collection. Hive rescue, hive division and re-housing from damaged hive boxes service. Ongoing after sales support.

Dean Haley, South Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Email: truebluebees@gmail.com
Website: truebluebees.com.au

Brian Callaghan, Benowa, Gold Coast, QLD (in boxes)
Mobile: 0424 356 360
Email: brianbetty@hotmail.com
With 12 month live bee guarantee. Hive splitting service also available.

Bill Furness, Manly West, QLD (in boxes)
Email: billfurness46@gmail.com
Phone: 0417 797 342
Picked up from Manly West, or delivered to Brisbane suburbs;
Hive splitting service also offered

Tobias Smith, Coffs Harbour region and Gold Coast (in boxes)
Phone: 0428 363 512
Email: toby@beeawarekids.com.au
Coffs Harbour Native Bees Website: coffsnativebees.com.au
Bee Aware Kids Website: www.beeawarekids.com.au
Toby supplies stingless bee hives (with 12 month guarantee) and beekeeping services.

Steve Maginnity, Northern NSW (in boxes)
Email: stevesnativebees@hotmail.com
Website: https://tanbc.com.au/
Phone: 0404 831 659
Also provides presentations to community groups, preschools, primary schools and high schools. Empty hives, flat packs and teacher resources also available. Crop pollination service provider and honey (sugarbag) producer.

James Madden, Goodna, Ipswich, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0408 981 127
Email: jcmadd88@bigpond.net.au

Peter Beier, Sherwood, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0438 794 228
Email: prbeier@bigpond.com

Giorgio Venturieri, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0487 121 432
Email: giorgio@venturieri.com
Websites: venturieri.com or nativobees.com
Also supplies and helps propagate hives, and sells empty square boxes from his Australian brand 'Nativo', good for splits or eduction/budding.

Richard Ray, Byron Bay, NSW (in boxes)
Bee Native Australia
Mobile: 0437 175 833
Email: beenative@bigpond.com
Carbonaria hives for both agriculture and residential needs, using paulownia wood for better temperature control. Richard says that as an experienced agribusiness executive, he understands growers and pollination. Provides advice on how to best incorporate hives into agriculture and assists with hive installation, operations and propagation in Northern NSW.

ABeeC Hives - Australian Native Beehives,
Brisbane, QLD (empty boxes only)
Phone: 07 3206 0552
Email: info@abeec.com.au
Website: www.abeec.com.au
Supplier of empty Australian Native Beehives and Accessories. Pickup available from Capalaba, 4157.

Luke Tomkins, Brisbane Native Bees, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0418 759 373
Website: www.brisbanenativebees.com.au
Providing quality established native bee hives in OATH design hives, including rescue and educational services, throughout Brisbane.

Brian Burnett, BeeBeesNativeBees
Forest Glen, Sunshine Coast, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0418 710 423
Email: beebeesnativebees@gmail.com
Pickup from Forest Glen on Sunshine Coast. Delivery to majority of east coast Qld. Installation from Noosa to Caboolture. Well established three compartment hives made totally of Cypress. Hive rescue service available. Hive eduction service available. Hive stands and hive roof.

Courtney the Stingless Bee Lady, Tweed Heads, NSW (in boxes)
Phone: 0400 092 888
Email: stinglessbeelady@gmail.com
Website: www.thestinglessbeelady.com
Hand made unique bee boxes and fully stocked hives. Roofs, stands, empty boxes & Tim Heard’s Australian Native Bee Book. Educational presentations available. Information and support. Rescues and duplication services.

Alex Derrick, Spicers Hollow Native Bees, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0413 486 163
Email: spicershollow@gmail.com
Website : www.spicershollow.com.au
Instagram: @spicershollownativebees
Facebook: Spicers Hollow Native Bees
Tc & Th in boxes. Australis in boxes and Observation Hives. Hive management and consultation. Full range of steel hive mounting options and security cages. Bee rescue, relocation and transfer specialists. Hive roofs and accessories.

Mark Payne, No Stings Attached
Tweed Heads, NSW & Gold Coast, QLD (in boxes)
Website: www.nostingsattached.com.au
Phone: 0432 944 362
Sells TC Hives, Propolis, Wax, Duplication Services, and Workshops for Preschools and Primary Schools. Pickup from Tweed Heads or Bangalow Byron Hinterland. Offers workshops from Gold Coast to Coffs Harbour.

Ian Driver, A Green Soul Native Bees,
Bulimba, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0402 784 171
Email: ianmdriver@gmail.com
Website: agreensoul.com.au
Facebook Page: A Green Soul
Supplier of full colonies, empty boxes and other products. Services include splitting, eduction, nest rescue, education services to schools and kindies, and community workshops.

David Anderson, Northside Native Bees,
Fitzgibbon, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Website: northsidenativebees.com.au
Email: david@northsidenativebees.com.au
Supplies established hives, empty bee boxes and accessories. Provides onsite services to assist in the management of hives.

Ocean Wemyss, Urban Native Bees, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0438 623 268
Email: oceanw1@yahoo.com.au
Website: urbannativebees.com.au
Providing established Tc, Th and Aa colonies in cypress and hard wood hives. Friendly advice and Specialising in rescue and relocation.

Peter Stone, Wellington Point, Redlands QLD (in boxes)
Email: poppypetesbees@gmail.com
Phone: 0405 727 004
Picked up from Wellington Point or delivered to Brisbane suburbs. Splitting, rescue and relocation services are offered.

Steve Flavel, Redcliffe QLD (in boxes)
Website: hivecraft.com.au
Email: steve@hivecraft.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/nativebeehives
Tc, Th and a variety of boxes and accessories.

Austroplebeia sp.
(Most common in central Queensland)

Russell and Janine Zabel, Hatton Vale QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0404 892 139
Email: bees@zabel.com.au
Website: https://www.zabel.com.au/

Tom Carter, Rockhampton QLD
Phone: 07 4922 1808

Vince Ashe, Crows Nest QLD (in logs)
Phone: 07 4698 1701

James Madden, Goodna, Ipswich, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0408 981 127
Email: jcmadd88@bigpond.net.au

Peter Beier, Sherwood, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0438 794 228
Email: prbeier@bigpond.com

Alex Derrick, Spicers Hollow Native Bees, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0413 486 163
Email: spicershollow@gmail.com
Website : www.spicershollow.com.au
Instagram: @spicershollownativebees
Facebook: Spicers Hollow Native Bees
Tc and Th in boxes. Australis in boxes and Observation Hives. Hive management and consultation. Full range of steel hive mounting options and security cages. Bee rescue, relocation and transfer specialists. Hive roofs and accessories.

John Waters, Bardon QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0484 930 718
Email: yodaregen@fastmail.fm

COOLER AREAS OF NSW
i.e. Central Coast, Sydney, eastern side of the Blue Mountains and South Coast.

Notes:
--- Log hives with thick walls are recommended for the NSW South Coast because they are better insulated than boxed hives.
--- On the western fringe of Sydney and the eastern side of the Blue Mountains, special care needs to be taken in siting boxed hives. Placement in a shed or verandah is recommended. Log hives are more reliable.
--- Keeping stingless bees is not recommended on the western side of the Blue Mountains and in more inland and southern areas of NSW because low winter temperatures can cause loss of hives.
--- Honey harvesting is not recommended in cooler areas of NSW because the bees need their excess honey stores to survive the winter months.
--- Hive splitting should be done less frequently cooler areas of NSW and it requires greater care to prevent loss of hives.

Tetragonula carbonaria
Previously called Trigona carbonaria

Russell and Janine Zabel, Hatton Vale QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0404 892 139
Email: bees@zabel.com.au
Website: https://www.zabel.com.au/

Tim Heard, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 3844 4914
Email: tim@sugarbag.net
Website: https://sugarbag.net/

Vince Ashe, Crows Nest QLD (in logs)
Phone: 07 4698 1701

Tony Goodrich, Brisbane QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 3878 2322
Mobile: 0449 746 970
Email: goodrichbees@gmail.com
Also supplies OATH hive boxes

Mark Grosskopf, Maryvale QLD (in boxes with new queens)
Phone: 0438 623 734

Chris Fuller, Kin Kin QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 07 5485 4454
Email: info@nativebees.com.au
Website: www.nativebees.com.au

Ray Brakell, Lake Munmorah, Central Coast NSW (in boxes or logs)
Phone: 02 4358 1568
Email: ray@beesaussiestingless.com.au
Website: www.beesaussiestingless.com.au
Also supplies OATH hive boxes

WildThings Program, Ku-ring-gai Council, Sydney (in boxes)
Website: http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au....
Email: wildthings@kmc.nsw.gov.au
Sydney acclimatised T. carbonaria colonies. Sales help fund the WildThings program

Frank Adcock, Nashua, Northern Rivers area, NSW (in boxes)
Nashua Native Bees - BN98483071
Email: nnbees@bigpond.com
Sells Non-splitable honey hives to order. Hives are propagated using eduction and natural propagation methods and constructed in western red cedar for hotter and cooler areas. A booklet "Getting Started with The Australian Native Stingless Bee" also comes with your first hive.

Isaac Mayer, Bush Bees, Sydney, NSW (in boxes)
Phone: 0468 873 280
Email: nativebushbees@gmail.com
Website: www.bushbees.com
Facebook Page: facebook.com/BushBees

Sarah Hamilton, Bee Yourself, Brisbane, QLD (in boxes)
Phone: 0433 226 791
Email: sarah@beeyourself.com.au
Website: www.beeyourself.com.au
Courier service to most of east coast. Established splittable and honey pot hives, empty boxes and hive tools, Roof and stand options, books and posters, educational services, rescue and splitting services.

Ian Driver, A Green Soul Native Bees, Bulimba, Brisbane (in boxes)
Phone: 0402 784 171
Email: ianmdriver@gmail.com
Website: agreensoul.com.au
Facebook Page: A Green Soul
Supplier of full colonies, empty boxes and other products. Services include splitting, eduction, nest rescue, education services to schools and kindies, and community workshops.

Graeme Rose, Cundletown near Taree, NSW (in boxes)
Website: www.tareenativebees.com.au
Phone: 0452 078 393
Hives in Boxes (Davenport Boxes) for about $300, supplying Newcastle to Port Macquarie only.

Adam Hutchinson, Bayu Australia Stingless Bee Honey, Sydney NSW (in boxes)
Phone: 0491 102 267
Email: info@bayu-australia.com.au
Website: bayu-australia.com.au/
Facebook Page: facebook.com/bayu.australia
Sydney acclimatised T. carbonaria full colonies. Services include Hive Splitting or Eduction, Honey Extraction, Native Bee Rescue, Native Bee Hive Installation and Maintenance, engaging Native Bee Presentations designed for schools, local councils, gardening groups, and more. Importer/Exporter of Stingless Bee Honey. Stingless Bee Honey Judge at Sydney Royal Easter Show.

Ben Fitzpatrick, Newcastle NSW (in boxes)
Email: ben@benfitzpatrick.com.au
Only supply Tetragonula carbonaria hives in the Greater Sydney and Hunter regions of NSW.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Keeping stingless bees in the ACT is not recommended because it is outside of the natural geographic range of the stingless bees.

VICTORIA
Keeping stingless bees in Victoria is not recommended because it is outside of the natural geographic range of the stingless bees.

TASMANIA
Keeping stingless bees in Tasmania is not recommended because it is outside of the natural geographic range of the stingless bees.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Keeping stingless bees in South Australia is not recommended because it is outside of the natural geographic range of the stingless bees.

IS YOUR AREA NOT RECOMMENDED FOR STINGLESS BEES?

Many other fascinating types of native bees may already be in your garden!

Find out what native bees live in your area! You can support and encourage these bees by planting nectar rich plants in your garden.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Stingless bees occur only from the Hamersley Ranges northwards in Western Australia. Western Australian authorities are strongly opposed to stingless bees being brought into more southern areas of Western Australia as they would disturb the unique balance of Western Australia's wildflowers and pollinators.
Aussie Bee firmly supports the position of the Western Australian authorities in this issue and is keen to protect Western Australia's wonderful native bee species.

All of the beekeepers whose details are listed on this page have agreed not to send hives of stingless bees into southern areas of Western Australia.

Suppliers of local WA bees

Matthew Middleton has rescued some log nests of stingless bees from landclearing in the Kimberley. These nests are available for sale to local northern WA customers only.
Website: beezotted.com.au
Email: mahoolia@hotmail.com

Tom Harrold, Broome, WA
'Broome Bee Boxes'
Colonies of Austroplebeia essingtoni in boxes, for customers in Broome WA and surrounding areas.
Email: tomtiarna@bigpond.com
Website: Broome Bee Boxes Facebook Page

NORTHERN TERRITORY
A variety of Tetragonula hockingsi is found in northern areas of the Northern Territory but other Northern Territory species differ from those of the eastern states. Obtaining nests of stingless bees from local suppliers is recommended in the Northern Territory.

Peter Lee, Darwin, NT
0414 610 606
Supplies stingless bees to his local area and the Top End surrounds. Also does bee rescues and can make custom bee boxes, solitary bee motels and log hives.

NOTE TO STINGLESS BEE HIVE SELLERS:
If you wish to have your contact details added to these lists, please write to the ANBRC at the address below.

Important: To have your contact details listed on this page as a hive seller, you must undertake not to send any stingless bees into southern areas of Western Australia.

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