What inspired you to start Our Australian Honey?
Our Australian Honey began from deep family roots and a shared passion for honeybees. Long before it became a family business, my husband Laurie’s great grandmother, Nanny Cartwright, lovingly nurtured her honeybees in a cottage garden in the nearby village of Sutton — a simple beginning that helped plant the seed of beekeeping in our family.
Our sons James, Matthew and Grant are fifth-generation beekeepers on both my husband Laurie’s family side and mine, so beekeeping is truly part of our heritage and who we are. Bees and honey have always been woven into our family life.
In 2023, as a family, we decided we would love to share our passion and the importance of bees with our community. We wanted to create something meaningful — not just selling honey, but educating others about the vital role bees play in our environment, food security, and future generations.
Our Australian Honey is truly a family story — built on tradition, resilience, and a deep respect for the incredible work of honeybees.
Tell us about creamed honey – what is the difference between creamed and regular?
We don’t add anything at all to our creamed honey — it is still 100% pure Australian honey. The difference is in the process: our honey is gently stirred for 72 hours, then poured and allowed to rest for two weeks in a cool environment. This careful method controls the natural crystallisation process, creating that smooth, velvety texture.
The result is absolutely beautiful — perfect on fresh bread or warm crumpets — a soft, spreadable honey that melts in your mouth while still being completely natural. It’s also always a delight to receive as a special gift, something thoughtful that can truly make someone’s day.
You produce everything in Gundaroo – how many hives do you have?
As a family, we nurture approximately 3,500 hives. We travel across roughly half the state of New South Wales following the flowering cycles of different tree varieties. Each species has its own timing, and to provide beautiful, distinct honey varieties, we must move with nature. Currently, some of our local honey varieties include Red Stringybark and Yellow Box — both stunning eucalyptus varieties with their own unique flavour profiles.
From hive to jar, it carries the story of our bees, our family, and the environment that sustains us all. It truly is the sweetest reward for hard work — and we absolutely love being part of the buzz.
How did the connection with Canberra Hospitals Foundation Gift Shop first happen? Do you have a connection to Canberra Hospital?
For many years our family has been regularly visiting loved ones receiving care at Canberra Hospital, and during those times we often supported the Gift Shop. Last year, while family members were in hospital, I enjoyed many conversations with the wonderful volunteers and staff. They were incredibly caring and supportive, especially during a time when one of our family members was critically unwell.
Our connection with the hospital continues as treatments and care continue around the hospital. The staff and volunteers always make us feel like part of their extended family.
As a local business, why is it important to you to give back to the Canberra community?
As a local family business, we love sharing our passion for honeybees and helping people understand how important they are to our environment and food supply. It is very rewarding to give back to our community through knowledge, support and kindness. Bringing people together and supporting one another is something we value deeply.
Everyone has a story and everyone is important. It reminds us all to appreciate life and the community around us.
If we can make someone’s day a little more special by enjoying our honey, that’s what matters. Sometimes it’s the little things in life that mean the most.
How does it feel knowing your honey is sold in the Gift Shop and helping to support patients and families?
It feels incredibly special and quite humbling. Our honey is something our family works on together, so knowing it’s being sold in the Gift Shop and helping support patients and their families means the world to us.
Canberra and the surrounding region really feel like our extended community. In many ways it’s like one big family, and we’re grateful to be able to give something back. The idea that our honey might be taken to a patient’s room, shared with a loved one, or simply bring a small moment of comfort or a smile during a difficult time is very meaningful to us.
If something as simple as a jar of honey from our family can brighten someone’s day, even just a little, then that truly makes our day as well.
What would you say to other small businesses who are thinking about partnering with the gift shop?
Supporting and giving back to our community is very close to our hearts, and partnering with the gift shop allows small businesses to do that in a meaningful way.
The smiles you see when visitors find something a little different or special for a loved one are incredibly rewarding. Often people are searching for something thoughtful rather than a regular item — something made with love and care — and it’s very special knowing our honey can be part of that moment.
It also means a lot knowing the Canberra Hospitals Foundation Gift Shop helps provide comfort and relief during difficult times. For small businesses thinking about partnering with the Gift Shop, I’d say it’s a wonderful way to connect with your community and know that something made with love can help make a real difference.
