General News
13 April, 2026
Matthew’s hives of hope
Honey from central Victoria’s “best area” could jump in price as apiarists face massive fuel hikes transporting hives ahead of pollination season. Yet one veteran beekeeper sees a buzz in the industry as a new generation looks to make its mark.
BEEKEEPER Matthew Carpenter hates using chemicals on the hives housing nature’s buzzing honey makers.
After 30 years in the industry - and contemplating either retirement or scaling back his operations - Matthew knows there is little choice if varroa mite is to be kept at bay.
“I don’t like using chemicals but I will have to,” he said at his Tarnagulla paddock on Friday where many of his 300 hives are before taking the bees north to the Sunraysia to pollinate on almond trees in spring.
“And I don’t know whether to get out of the industry. Ultimately varroa mite is going to hit hard but also I know we will be fine as long as we treat the hives properly.”
Matthew said he regarded the Tarnagulla area as one of Victoria’s best locations for honey production.
“There’s the ironbark and the greybox (trees),” he said.
He was at the paddock “getting the bees sorted for winter” and sharing his industry insights in what he hopes will be part of the next generation of apiarists.
“One of our problems is that the industry is ageing,” Matthew said.
“There’s interest from younger people. It needs investment from them to keep it going over the next five years.”
Matthew says they will have the drive to succeed in a challenging time.
“Imported honey makes it hard - from China and Argentina - it’s landed in Australia for $2.30 a kilogram and that makes it hard to compete when the price of diesel a litre is well over $3 at the moment,” he said.
He expects fuel bills of $3000 during pollination season. “That will push our prices up.”
Matthew believes the industry future will be a mix of new entrants and current expansion by current apiarists. “In comparison with some, I’m small with 300 hives ... still I have thousands of bees. Each hive will have between 20,000 and 50,000 bees - that’s a lot of bees,” he said.
Matthew, a member of the Victorian Apiarists Association representing commercial and recreational beekeepers, says he wants to do his bit to bring new people into the industry.
Western District farm overseer George Thomas already has four hives. With friends, he was with Matthew on Friday looking at potentially taking on some of the hives at Tarnagulla.
Emily Bear, a Melbourne optometrist and husband Tom, originally from Canary Island, were in the group.
She said they wanted to be part of the industry solution and make a difference in a changing landscape being influenced by varroa mite.
“We don’t know where this will end up but we’re taking baby steps to be involved in farming in a niche way,” she said.
Emily and George said the association’s “bush telegraph” had connected them with Matthew and on Friday they did health tests on the Tarnagulla hives as they assess whether to take bigger steps in the industry.
“I like having bees and they are good for the environment,” George said. “We’ll see how this progresses.”
Read More: Tarnagulla, Loddon Shire