Season lengths in Australia?

[SB-Russ]

Whoa, I'd better get hopping on getting my hives set up. I haven't even bought them yet, so have to assemble and finish them first, then source some bees! Darn hares chewed up all my new callistemons and wattles I planted at the start of the year, so I'm back to square one with flora too :(

[Anybrew2]

Haha you better get moving for sure especially in Qld. I had a lot of trouble with Hares too, I have had to put chicken wire around my young trees to stop the bastards.

[Anybrew2]

Talking about Bee's I wanted three hives now I have thirty ahhhh.

[SB-Russ]

Heh, my big fear. I queried a local association about joining, starting with 3 hives. They recommended starting with just one. That doesn't seem a good idea to me, as if it dies, I'm back to starting again next year. I'm old enough already that I feel I've already let too many opportunities slip by me that it's too late in life to start.

[Michael Bush]

>They recommended starting with just one. That doesn't seem a good idea to me...

It's not a good idea.  I would say 2 is minimal.  2 1/2 is better (two hives and a nuc).  With a nuc you have a spare queen, some spare open brood etc.  If you have a queen problem you have the resources to provide the solution.  With one hive if you think your are queenless (and are likely wrong) you have no recourse other than buying a queen who will probably be killed because they are likely not queenless...
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespanacea.htm
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfallacies.htm#nobroodnoqueen

[SB-Russ]

Thanks Michael. Now if only I could find someone selling bees!