Queen Bees For Sale

A good queen is the difference between a hive that struggles and one that fills a box with honey. I’ve been breeding Italian queens for years, and I still get a kick out of opening a hive after a new queen has gone in and seeing frame after frame of solid brood. That’s what you’re buying here: not just a bee, but the next two seasons of your hive.

Our next batch of queens will be ready from October 2026.

Details:

• Mated Italian queen, around 4 weeks old at dispatch, guaranteed mated and laying
• Supplied in a transport cage with escort bees
• Pick up from Factory 55, 31-39 Norcal Road, Nunawading, by appointment
• Express Post available to eligible states, so queens aren’t sitting in a depot over a weekend
• Order one queen or a batch for multiple hives. Larger orders, text Ben on 0437 077 792 first to lock in numbers

Note: Bees are not permanently marked. Any paint dot will wear off over time.

Why Italian queen bees?

Italians are the breed I’d put in front of any beginner and most experienced keepers too. In our hives, they’re calm on the comb, quick to build up in spring, strong foragers and tidy housekeepers.

They lay generously, which means big populations and big honey crops, with the trade-off that you need to keep an eye on stores going into winter because a large colony eats. For Melbourne’s climate, they’ve been the right call for us year after year.

Can I buy just one queen bee?

Yes. If you’ve got one established hive that’s gone queenless, or an old queen that’s slowing down, one is all you need.

Just remember a queen on her own won’t start a colony. For that, you want a 5-frame nucleus hive, which comes with a laying queen.

Can you post queen bees to my state?

Since varroa mite became established in eastern Australia, every state sets its own rules on bees coming in, and they change. As things stand, we can’t send to Tasmania, Western Australia, the Northern Territory or Kangaroo Island. Queensland is open. South Australia needs a permit from PIRSA and a health certificate before the queen leaves Victoria, so allow extra time.

Before you order, check your own state’s biosecurity page or text or email Ben and he’ll tell you straight whether we can get a queen to you and what is involved. Queens are posted Express from Melbourne.

Within Victoria, there are no restrictions, but you do need to be registered as a beekeeper with Agriculture Victoria. It’s free and takes a few minutes.

A new queen is the cheapest, fastest way to turn a struggling hive around. If you’re also after a box to put her in, our hive boxes are here, and the Traditional Langstroth Beekeeping Package is the whole lot in one go for anyone starting fresh.