Melita Honey Farm was founded in 2001 by four members of the Beerepoot family, Henk, Lida, Remmo and Fanny. Having originally migrated from the Netherlands in the early 1980’s the family settled in Tasmania in 1999 after having lived in a number of different mainland states. Oddly enough wherever the family settled they found that beekeepers seemed to find their way into their inner circle. One of these, an old time beekeeper by the name of Bert Daw from Western Australia, planted a seed one day when he mentioned to Henk that it would be a great idea to start a retail store that was focused purely on honey. It was a seed that would germinate many years later.

When the cool climate of Tasmania beckoned the family to move, they settled in the Meander Valley, purchasing a small closed down tea room in the village of Chudleigh. All around the small village of Chudleigh dairy cows graze on lush green meadows beneath the majestic Great Western Tiers. It was not difficult to settle into this piece of paradise. Needing to engage a builder to complete some renovations the family crossed paths with the Norris family, who were not only builders but long time Tasmanian beekeepers. It was now that the seed planted by Bert many years before germinated, and Henk, with his experience in the food and retail industries, saw an opportunity in promoting the unique Tasmanian honey story through a retail experience in the village of Chudleigh – which lies along a main route connecting Launceston with Cradle Mountain.

From modest beginnings the family combined their talents and Melita Honey Farm opened its doors on November the 11th, 2001. Despite the challenges facing the tourism industry at the time in the wake of September the 11th, and the collapse of Ansett Australia Airlines, Melita Honey Farm grew from strength to strength. This wasn’t just a business… it had become a passion – sharing the story of Tasmanian honey with visitors from around the world. In 2013 Henk passed away after a short illness. It was now time for Remmo and Fanny to take over the reigns from their parents. Building on a strong foundation the siblings further expanded the product range and managed the business through an extreme growth phase as Tasmania experienced a boom in both international and domestic tourism.

Just prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, Remmo and Fanny had decided that it was time for a transition. In 2021, after a period of due diligence, a Tasmanian investor invested in the business with Remmo and Fanny joining the new management team. This new team is excited about the future of Melita Honey Farm, a well-established producer of pure, handmade honey and beeswax products, which will build further on the legacy and foundation laid down by the Beerepoot family.

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