Hi everyone, I couldn't resisit being the first to post in this brand spanking new forum, so here's some useful information. Mainly it will interest Australians, but hopefully others will derive some benefit from it too.
Department of Primary Industry (NSW) Honey Bee Home Page (http://www.agric.nsw.gov.au/reader/honeybees) Lots of Useful Information.
Department of Primary Industry (VIC) Honey Bee Home Page (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/FID/-851FE8981A17AFD0CA256C850008F4CD?OpenDocument) Most of the information here is available in the links below:
The Paperwork: F 8-02 Application for Registration as a beekeeper, and F 8-04 Notice of Disposal of Hives (PDF file). (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/646e9b4bba1afb2bca256c420053b5ce/b5b1282daeb82909ca2571fa007f4013/$FILE/ATTJRC9P/Bees.pdf)
Apiary Code of Practice 1997 - I don't think it's changed (PDF file) (http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/4AC9E7E751D28AA1CA257069001FF86F/$File/Apiary+Code+of+Practice+May+1997.pdf)
DPI: Bees - Information Notes (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/LinkView/C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628)
- A Guide to the Field Diagnosis of Honey Bee Brood Diseases (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-4471485295D46088CA256BCF000BBF40?open)
- AFB Smart - Helping to Detect American Foulbrood (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-C762ADC4E9F567FCCA256E8C001CA068?open)
- Varroa - An Exotic Parasitic Mite of Honey Bees (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-23C779950B8545FCCA256FFC001AB96E?open)
- Beekeeping and the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-5897CEEA0B007B82CA256D33001A82DD?open)
- Field diagnosis of exotic honey bee parasites and pests in beehives
(http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-59374A6190292AB4CA256C7800812FF3?open)
- Hobby Beekeeping (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-AD1A3735A34CCFEECA256E52000C8331?open)
- Honeybee pollination of fruit tree crops
(http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-258AA7889AF75995CA256C190007EF87?open)
- Nosema disease in honeybees
(http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-FA80108C73D099A9CA256CFC00048815?open)
- Raising Queen Honey Bees (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-8A525202E1C15A04CA256F10001C14B6?open)
- Safe Beekeeping Practices (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-9C0349CA4DD63137CA257147000CE1CD?open)
- Samples for Laboratory Diagnosis of Bee Diseases (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-548DDDC2C67663E5CA2571B50019E098?open)
- Small Hive Beetle - A Beekeeping Pest (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-14B9F253A8ED1138CA256C99000527BE?open)
- Wax Moth - A Pest of Combs and Honey Bee Products (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-1958DE2837A372ECCA256CFC001F11F1?open)
- Which diseases of bees must be notified (http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nreninf.nsf/childdocs/-89E7A8DAFEA417624A2568B30004C26A-C6A014FC88F23F19CA256BC700811628-26181E79F5B05B3F4A256DEA0027399A-76602BC8C3DFCBD4CA256C17000476B1?open)
Australian Honeybee Industry Council (http://www.honeybee.org.au/)RIRDC Honeybee Research Program (http://www.rirdc.gov.au/programs/hb.html)- Fat Bees, Skinny Bees - a manual on honey bee nutrition for beekeepers (http://www.rirdc.gov.au/reports/HBE/05-054.pdf)
Online Bee Supplies and Equipment: Bindaree Beekeeping Supplies (http://www.bindaree.com.au/)
Redpath's Beekeeping Supplies (http://www.redpaths.com.au/)
That'll do for now. I'll try to continuously update this thread whenever I find something or remember something.
Cheerio,
James.
I think the best resource is the Australasian Bee Manual by Isaac Hopkins. But it's been out of print for about a century... I have two editions. The 1911 and the 1886 edition. Both are excellent. The 1911 edition has the "Hopkins" method of queen rearing in it.
Here is the queen rearing section:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeshopkinsmethod.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeshopkins1886.htm