About the club

Beekeeping is an exciting and low cost hobby, and it also provides you with an abundant supply of honey!

The Hunter Valley branch of the Amateur Beekeepers’ Association (ABA) of NSW is an active club for beekeeping enthusiasts located in the Hunter region of New South Wales.  The club meets 10am at the Visitors’ Centre, Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, north of Newcastle on the 4th Sunday of each month.  There is no meeting in December.

The monthly meeting usually comprises a short business/minutes of meeting time, and an educational session, followed by (weather permitting) an inspection of the club’s hives which are kept nearby.   Membership consists on an annual fee of $80. 

Club History

The Hunter Branch was formed in October 1964 at a meeting held in the Department of Agriculture’s Regional Office (now a funeral parlour) in East Maitland. It was called the Hunter Valley Branch. The branch has had its ups and downs and lost some members when a branch of the NSW Apiarists’ Association was formed in the Hunter Valley on 21 June 1993. Nevertheless the branch has prospered and its headquarters and apiary are now located within the Newcastle Botanic Gardens at Heatherbrae. Branch honey is sold through the Gardens Kiosk.

We can help beginners of all ages get started.

Monthly Meetings

Please feel welcome to attend our monthly meetings: 10am on the 4th Sunday of each Month (Excluding December) at the Hunter Region Botanic Gardens, (Visitor’s Centre) ;Pacific Highway, Heatherbrae

For more information contact one of the following:

Jim Wright (Secretary), Tel 4959 3138

Ted Flower (President), Tel 4968 1483