Beekeeper Tom shares the buzz at Anglesea markets

VISITORS to the Surf Coast will have the chance to meet Beekeeper Tom and discover the story behind Coastal Nectar when the award-winning local business pops up at markets later this month.

Founded by professional beekeeper and native bee educator Thomas Earls, affectionately known as Beekeeper Tom, Coastal Nectar blends small-batch local raw honey with hands-on environmental education, putting a contemporary twist on one of the world’s oldest traditions.

When he is not working with his hives or teaching students about pollinators, Earls is often found heading for the surf, a balance that has become part of the business’s Surf Coast identity.

On Friday, January 16 and January 23, Beekeeper Tom will host a honey and bee education stall at the Anglesea Twilight Market, running on Friday evenings from 4.30pm to 8pm at McMillan Avenue, Anglesea.

The market appearances offer families a relaxed school-holiday activity, with free honey tastings – including the brand’s new spicy chilli honey, interactive bee education and the chance for children to roll their own beeswax candle to take home.

 

Visitors can also learn about Australia’s native bee species and see how hives operate up close.

Beyond the markets, Coastal Nectar has built a strong reputation through its school programs, delivering interactive workshops and educational games that explain the role bees play in biodiversity and food systems.

Over the past year, Earls has travelled extensively, visiting schools and communities across Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory as part of a national pollinator education tour.

The business’s impact was recognised in 2025 when Coastal Nectar was named Business of the Year at the Torquay Business Awards, with judges highlighting its creativity, uniqueness and focus on educating young people.

That same year, the documentary Beehives & Bottom Turns — which follows Beekeeper Tom’s work with bees alongside Surf Coast surf culture — was awarded Best Documentary at the Melbourne International Cineverse Film Festival.

The film has since been screened locally and internationally, drawing attention to environmental storytelling from the region.

 

Now five years into the journey, Coastal Nectar’s honey can be found at a range of local stockists, while its education work continues to grow nationwide.

Bee-friendly summer garden advice from Beekeeper Tom

Coastal Nectar encourages households to support pollinators at home during the warmer months by planting bee-friendly gardens.

Summer-flowering plants such as dill, calendula, native hibiscus, native desert flame and sunflowers can provide valuable nectar sources, while shallow water dishes with safe landing spots, such as rocks in a bird bath, help bees stay hydrated.

For more information, head to coastalnectar.com.au and follow

@coastal.nectar on Instagram.

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