High above our city, our rooftop bees are busy at work, bringing new life to South Bank.
Small in size but mighty in impact, our bees support our focus on sustainability while contributing to urban biodiversity and food security.
Our Hives
Our rooftop is home to six thriving beehives, quietly supporting the green heart of South Bank. These bees play a vital role in pollinating South Bank Parklands, Musgrave Park, Victoria Park and the surrounding river corridor, strengthening urban biodiversity and contributing to local food security.
A single bee can visit up to 5,000 flowers a day, and our hives are home to thousands of them. Together, they forage across one of Brisbane’s most diverse urban landscapes, following a seasonal rhythm shaped by native eucalypts in winter, blossoming ironbarks and citrus in spring and vibrant jacarandas, flame trees, poincianas and bougainvillea through summer.
By supporting these tiny pollinators, we’re helping to sustain ecosystems far beyond our rooftop.
The Rooftop Reserve
The Rooftop Reserve is our pure, local honey harvested from BCEC’s very own hives.
Incorporated into menu planners, signature dishes and bespoke creations, our harvests contribute to the overarching food philosophy of our culinary team, Seasoned by Queensland, who champion sustainable kitchen practices by sourcing locally and reducing environmental impact.
Bee One Third
Our Urban Pollination initiative is made possible through our partnership with Bee One Third, an Australian urban beekeeping company that manages hives across Brisbane and beyond, transforming unused spaces into thriving ecosystems.
Their mission is to reconnect communities with the essential role pollinators play in our food system and overall wellbeing.
“From a beekeeper’s point of view, BCEC’s rooftop colonies are sitting above one of the most diverse urban forage zones in Brisbane, that mix is exactly what allows urban hives in South Bank to stay productive from late winter right through to mid-summer” – Jack Stone, Director at Bee One Third.