QUEENSLAND'S GERMAN CONNECTIONS - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Beekeeping wars: Dzierzon vs Langstroth

W. Boldemann Rockhampton beekeeper 1867, brewer and soap maker Boldemann moved to Queensland from Sydney in 1862 and established his soap-making business at Rockhampton in 1867 in conjunction with J B L Isambert, who, after some years in partnership, moved to Ipswich. On 2 November 1867, the Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser reported that We have lately examined four hives at Mr. Boldemann’s, near the Upper Dawson Road, which, though common enough in Germany, will seem to the British eye complete novelties. There are four hives, two over two. Each hive consists of an oblong box standing upright; there is a door in front extending nearly the whole length of the box, with a small aperture at the bottom for the bees. On opening this door, the bees are discovered in full work. At each side of the box is a ledge supporting a series of moveable partitions, or frames, on which the bees build their combs. These frames can be removed separately. The operator, previously to opening the hive, lights a piece of dry wood, and opening the door cautiously, effectually mesmerizes the tiny labourers by “incensing” them. He then takes out frame after frame with its load of golden honey, the bees clustering over it harmlessly. Our practical German friend went so far as to cut a large slice off one of the outer combs, to the astonishment of the bees, and putting it on a plate invited us to try it. We found it delicious … [This style of hive] has been almost universally adopted on the Continent. We would recommend any one who intends forming an apiary, to visit Mr. Boldemann’s establishment, and that gentleman and his obliging and polite partner will give the necessary information. The Morning Bulletin noted on 13 October 1886 that “… the Black or English Bees …were first introduced into this district about twenty years ago, by Mr. Boldemann and Mr. Isambert … For a time they did remarkably well, and colonies were planted in many parts of the surrounding country. When the [Bee] Moth began its destructive course, Bee-keeping, as a rural industry, was destroyed. One selector, [Glenny Naish] near Raglan, who, we have been informed, had sixty hives, did not manage to save one …”

Glenny Naish A citrus, lucerne and maize farmer, and sometime absentee apiarist who came to Rockhampton around 1875. The town’s Morning Bulletin newspaper stated “Mr Naish has an apiary from which he gets about two tons of honey annually. He has received high encomiums [high praise] for the product, which finds a ready sale in the western country. It is arranged in neat tins, labeled Cedar Valley, the name of the farm.” The Capricornian of 23 September 1893 was to report: “The crops of maize and potatoes have been most abundant. Dairying has been most successfully carried on, and bee-keeping has succeeded beyond all expectations. Mr. Naish and Mr. Christiansen are large bee-keepers, and they have already sent away over three tons of honey this year.” (To place “large bee-keepers” in context, Christiansen had 20 hives of bees in 1900 according to the Morning Bulletin on 2 June.) Gustaf Zeibig 1845–1927, Saxon Garden, Rockhampton From The Capricornian , 2 December 1893: “During the year Mr. Zeibig …exported a trial parcel [of honey] to his native country, but owing to the opposition of merchants who handle an article they call ‘Californian honey’, it has, so far, been difficult to make an impression on the German market.” On 3 December 1897 the Morning Bulletin reported that “Mr. Zeibig has recently sold out a large portion of his apiary and, so we are informed, intends to go into beekeeping on a new system.” Dresden-born Gustaf Adolph Zeibig bought nine acres (3.6ha) of land four miles (6.4km) up the Fitzroy River from Rockhampton, and became well known in the district for decades.

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