Collins Honey
Greater Bendigo
Tell us about yourself and what you produce.
Collins Honey Pty Ltd is a third-generation family beekeeping business based in Bendigo, led by Richard Collins, who grew up around bees, trucks and honey sheds. What started with my grandfather and father back in 1955 has grown into a modern hands-on operation built on hard work consistency and a genuine love for the craft. We don’t grow crops we grow bees. Our bees play a vital role in pollination across regional Victoria supporting fruit, nut and seed crops. Healthy bees are essential to Australian food systems, and we take that responsibility seriously every single day. Alongside pollination, we produce award winning Australian honey with multiple local and state level awards recognising the quality of our creamed and varietal honeys. These awards don’t happen by chance. They come from long days, big miles, constant hive work, and an uncompromising approach to quality. We work hard to ensure every consumer gets the real deal. No shortcuts, no blending, just real Australian honey straight from our hives, packed by our family and crew, the way it should be. Every jar reflects the work behind it and the pride we take in our bees, our land, and our name.
When is it in season?
Honey is completely seasonal and that’s what makes it special. Each variety reflects what’s flowering at the time and where our bees are working. We follow the seasons across Victoria and New South Wales, allowing us to showcase the incredible diversity of Australian landscapes and flora. Rather than producing the same honey year-round, our varieties change with the seasons. Some florals produce light delicate honeys, while others create rich bold flavours. And once that flowering finishes, that honey is gone until the next season. Spring and early summer bring lighter floral honeys as native trees and pastures begin flowering. Late summer and autumn produce deeper stronger flavoured honeys as different eucalypts come into bloom. Some seasons are short intense bursts while others depend heavily on rainfall, weather, and bee conditions. This seasonality is exactly how we showcase both Victoria and NSW. Each jar tells a story of place, time, and climate, and no two seasons are ever the same. It’s nature doing the work and we simply look after the bees and let the honey speak for itself.
Do you stock your produce anywhere in our region?
Bendigo & surrounds:
- APCO Kangaroo Flat
- APCO Strathdale
- Bendigo Wholefoods
- Champions IGA Kangaroo Flat
- Champions IGA Strathfieldsaye
- Champions IGA Long Gully
- Champions IGA Heathcote
- Maiden Gully IGA
- Bendigo Visitor Centre
- CEPA Co-Operative
- Sandhurst Stockfeeds
- Favourite Flavours Bendigo
- The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion
- Meats on Mitchell
- Spring Gully General Store
- Premium Stockfeeds
- Percy and Percy
- Bendigo Fresh
- Central Deborah Gold Mine Regional Victoria
- Heathcote Visitor Centre
Other:
- APCO Alfredton (Ballarat)
- Champions IGA Bacchus Marsh (Darley)
- Champions IGA Maddingley
- Swan Hill Fresh
- Champions IGA Whittlesea
- Bucks Country Bakehouse (Yarck)
What's your favourite recipe using your own freshly grown produce?
We roast local pumpkin until it’s golden and caramelised, then finish it with a generous drizzle of our own creamed honey. The natural sweetness of the honey pairs perfectly with the roasted veg without overpowering it. We serve it with feta, a squeeze of lemon cracked pepper and fresh herbs from the local Farmers Market.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your business?
One thing we’d really like to share is that our business is built on trust. As beekeepers we sit at the very start of the food chain and that comes with a lot of responsibility. We work hard to produce honey the right way, caring for our bees, managing biosecurity and ensuring every jar that leaves our shed is genuine Australian honey. In an industry where shortcuts and imported blends exist, we choose transparency, quality and doing the hard work ourselves. We’re also deeply connected to our region. Our bees support local agriculture through pollination, and our honey reflects the landscapes of Victoria and New South Wales changing with the seasons and the florals. No two seasons are the same and that’s what makes our product honest and real. Most importantly, we’re still a hands-on family business. We’re out with the bees, packing the honey, delivering to stockists, and meeting customers face to face at markets. When you buy our honey, you’re supporting Australian beekeeping, regional communities, and a family that takes a lot of pride in what they do.
Check out Collins Honey on their website
