Total: $0.00
Taxes and shipping calculated at checkout
I'd love to introduce you to my husband, Rupert—the heart and soul behind our bees.
A Childhood Fascination with Bees
Rupert Charles Brian was born in Kenya, and at a young age his family moved to Pietermaritzburg in South Africa. It was there, on the family farm in Winterskloof, that his fascination with bees began—at just eight years old.
He had been watching a colony living in a tree, captivated by the steady stream of bees flying back and forth. Determined to make them his own, he ran back to the house, found a cardboard box, and carefully decorated it with cut flowers from his mother’s garden. He placed it at the base of the tree, convinced the bees would be tempted into their new home.
The next morning, full of excitement, he rushed back to check.
The result? No bees—and a box full of wilted flowers.
It wasn’t quite the success he had imagined.
Learning the Craft
Seeing Rupert’s enthusiasm, his father introduced him to a local beekeeper. Under his guidance, Rupert began to learn the true craft of beekeeping.
He soon had his first proper hive and bee veil—and discovered why his cardboard box idea had failed: without a queen, no colony would ever move in.
From there, his passion only grew. Over the following years, Rupert kept more hives and began entering his honey into the Royal Agricultural Show in Pietermaritzburg. To his delight, his entries consistently placed—earning First, Second, and Third prizes and cementing a lifelong love of beekeeping.
A New Beginning in Australia
In 1982, Rupert and his family moved to Australia. After a short time in Tasmania, he settled in Perth, Western Australia, where he returned to beekeeping in 1988.
He established a small operation called Rubee Apiaries, running around 50 hives and specialising in comb honey.
A Dream Takes Shape
Not long after we were married, we began talking about a dream—creating a place where people could experience honey in a completely different way.
At the time, some people called it a “pipe dream.” But to us, it felt very real.
Rupert had always envisioned a dedicated honey farm—a place where visitors could taste, learn, and truly understand bees. A place that celebrated the incredible diversity of Western Australian honey, showcasing it in its purest form: unblended, unpasteurised, and full of character.
There was just one small problem—we had no money.
But we did have belief, determination, and a willingness to take risks.
So we made a plan.
Chasing the Dream
To fund our dream, we decided to work overseas and save everything we could. At the time, we were both in the casino industry, so we applied for jobs on international cruise ships—and were fortunate enough to be accepted.
That marked the beginning of our saving journey.
Later, we moved to Tinian, a small volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, about 160 kilometres north of Guam. Part of the Commonwealth of the United States, Tinian has a rich and fascinating history—but for us, it became something more: a stepping stone toward our future.
We fell in love with island life.
Of course, Rupert couldn’t stay away from bees for long. Before we knew it, he had established an apiary there, producing beautiful island honey. Even while working and saving, the dream never left us.
We would often sit together, talking about the future we wanted to build. There was never any doubt in our minds that one day, we would create our honey farm in the Swan Valley.
And step by step, that dream began to take shape.
A Champion for Bees
Rupert is a true advocate for bees—their wellbeing, their importance, and the role they play in our world.
He is always generous with his knowledge, happily sharing what he has learned with anyone willing to listen.
It’s not uncommon to find him gently rescuing a struggling bee from a pond or swimming pool. He’ll carefully lift it into the palm of his hand and softly breathe warm air over it, helping to revive the tiny body until it’s strong enough to fly away again.
Sharing Knowledge and Inspiring Others
Rupert has a natural passion for teaching and loves guiding new beekeepers as they begin their journey.
At the start of our beekeeping courses, you’ll often find Rupert wandering in, ready to share stories, insights, and a few hard-earned lessons from years in the field.
Whether he's speaking to aspiring beekeepers or curious visitors, his enthusiasm for bees is contagious.
The Man Behind the Buzz
If you’re ever visiting The House of Honey, you’ll likely spot Rupert nearby—fixing something, chatting with customers, or moving between jobs.
And you’ll definitely hear him before you see him.
His booming laugh is unmistakable, and more often than not, it has everyone around him laughing too.
That warmth, generosity, and passion for bees are what make Rupert such a special part of The House of Honey—and why so many visitors remember meeting him long after they leave.
