R STEPHENS TASMANIAN HONEY 2009

R STEPHENS TASMANIAN HONEY
Factory at Mole Creek, Tasmania, Australia
2009
Ian & Shirley Stephens
CONTACT DETAILS
ADDRESS
Mailing address
Email
Website
Telephone
FAX
International
: 25 Pioneer Drive, Mole Creek, Tasmania, 7304
: PO BOX 4, Mole Creek, Tasmania. 7304
: busybees@leatherwoodhoney.com.au
: www.leatherwoodhoney.com.au
: 03 63631170
: 03 63631304
: 011 61 3 63631170
Left to right, Ken, Neal & Ewan
PERSONAL DETAILS
Ian R Stephens – Administration /Sales Manager
Shirley R Stephens - Sales
3 son’s all multi skilled, fully qualified Apiarists, specialising in
Ewan Stephens
– Production Manager
Neal Stephens
– Apiarist & Wax Production
Ken Stephens
– Queen Breeder & Sales
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R STEPHENS TASMANIAN HONEY
2009
Ian has served the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association Incorporate. With his father Robert, Ian,
07/07/2001, & Shirley, 08/07/2006, have been made Life Members of the Tasmanian
Beekeepers Association Incorporate (TBA Inc). Ian, together with his late father, attended his
first conference in 1950 and has attended most, if not all, Conferences since then.
Ian was an Executive Member, elected in 1968 and, except for one year, served continuously in
this position, still serves on the Apiary Liaison Committee & Disease Control Committee. Ian’s
wife Shirley, joined the TBA inc. some 40 years ago, then she became Vice President and
President for four years, having also served as an Executive member for many years, just now
retired. Ewan is now serving on the Executive Committee with the TBA Inc.
Shirley was Vice president of the Federal Council of Australian Apiarists Association for 2 years.
Ian President of Honey Packers & Marketers of Australia Association, (HPMAA) and now Vice
President, a member for 40 years. In 2006 Ian & Shirley accepted an award from the Australia
Honey Bee Industry Council (A.H.B.I.C.) “For the provision of outstanding services to the Apiarist
Industry in Australia”
THE STORY ! – INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
1914 Robert Stephens had just started keeping Bees when he joined the 12th Battalion, World
War 1.
1919 Robert returned in 1919, and purchased 2 acres of land on which the Apiary & Factory are
now situated.
1923 50 hives of Bees were moved by horse and cart to Caveside.
1929-1930 Robert now employed 2 men to help him work 450 hives using an A Model
Ford truck.
1930 the now famous GOLDEN BEE Honey label was introduce.
1934 Bees were transported to Mt. Arrowsmith area of the West Coast for Leatherwood
Honey. Because of bad roads, transport and the War, Robert was unable to return to this
area until 1951.
1951 Retail outlets were established for Leatherwood Honey & label was designed, as
the Apiaries were established at Mt. Arrowsmith, West Coast, Tasmania.
1966 Robert’s son Ian took over the running of the business. The business is now in its
3rd generation of producing & packing Honey for over 80 years.
New buildings, machines & outside improvements were made during the intervening years.
Land surrounding the factory was purchased for future expansion.
2009 A successful Apiary business of 2400 hives.
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R STEPHENS TASMANIAN HONEY
Cert. 0485
ORGANIC FOOD COMPANY
2009
100%
Golden Nectar Real Leatherwood Honey is now certified Organic registration no. OFC 0485,
(Organic Food Company), USDA 100% Organic, for both the Honey & Beeswax. Both Honey &
Factory are audited for B’Qual level 3 and Tasmania Quality Assured (TQA) (Please see pictures
above)
The honey is gathered from the World Heritage Rain Forest Areas on the West Coast of
Tasmania. The air has been accredited as being the cleanest air on the planet. This unique honey
is sold in Australia, mainly in Woolworth’s Spread Departments, Health Food, Gourmet, and
Natural Food outlets as well as Tourist Shops and Supermarkets in Tasmania. Ever expanding
shipments are made to the USA, Japan and Lebanon.
The growth of the business has seen many labour saving devices used both in the factory, see
photo, & in transport of the Hives and Honey.
4 Ford Trucks are used.
The latest, Ford Stirling, Semi was purchased in 2008.
Ewan
Kooiups for
purchased 2
loading and
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R STEPHENS TASMANIAN HONEY
2009
unloading the Hives which have streamlined that exercise.
Four to five men work the Bees during the Honey flow, with the Honey being returned to Mole
Creek for extraction, here another crew, use three 70 frame radial Extractors and an automatic
uncapping machine extracting 5-6 tonnes of Honey per day. The Honey is extracted in hygienic
conditions, all stainless steel equipment, and pumped into stainless steel storage tanks in the
modern packing room. The Honey Bottling and labelling machines are the best in Tasmania and
the factory is the most up to date and efficient for its size in Australia. It now has TQA (Tasmania
Quality Assured) and B’Qual (Australian Honey Industry Standard Quality Assured
accreditation).
Hives are placed in World Heritage Areas of the West Coast Tasmania. (MAP)
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R STEPHENS TASMANIAN HONEY
2009
The Bird Kelly’s Basin Area is our highest production; this year’s photo shows the three trucks
returning from West Coast.
An unusual way of transporting the Hives occurs each year as we put the whole truck, Hives &
Honey on the train to take them into Teepookana on the Wilderness Railway Train (ABT) from
Strahan.
Ken Stephens checking card system
Honey now removed from Hives
Men taking off Honey
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