15/10/2026
A moment in our history we will never forget.
In 2016, Blue Hills Honey came frighteningly close to losing everything.
The bushfires threatened our home base, sheds and the family business we had worked so hard to build. The fire burnt to within just 200 metres of our home base and sheds, putting decades of hard work and our family’s livelihood at risk.
Pictured here is Robert Charles, ready to defend his property as the fire approached. The second photos shows a site blanketed by smoke.
The damage extended far beyond the immediate threat to our home. We lost Manuka territory, with 10 of our 16 sites lost to the fires. For a beekeeping business, these sites are more than just locations on a map; they are valuable resources that support our bees and our honey production. Losing them had a lasting impact on our operations.
After generations of beekeeping, the thought of losing everything in a matter of hours was unimaginable. Thankfully, we made it through, but the experience left a lasting mark on our family and our business.
Today, we look back on this photo with gratitude and reflection. It reminds us how quickly things can change, how much our business depends on the land, and how important resilience is in what we do.
Through the difficult times, we have continued to push forward, protecting the legacy built by generations before us.
This is more than a honey business. It is our family’s legacy, and one we will always fight to protect.
