| Towards the end of the 19th century the
mission was producing a variety of products including
wine, olive oil, silk, soap and tobacco, while bees had
been introduced to the Victoria Plains by Salvado early
in the mission's history. Originally a single-storeyed
wooden structure built by Senor John Casellas, the
brickwork and second floor of this unique eight-sided
apiary were completed by monks in the late 1930s. It is
thought to be based on a design for apiaries popular
throughout Europe in the 19th century, and was the work
of Dom Urbane Gimenez, who also designed the New Norcia
Hotel. Use of the beehouse declined in the second half
of this century as salt from the river gradually
destroyed the orchard which once covered this area,
forcing the bees to scatter. Then a flood in the early
1960s severely damaged the apiary and honey production
ceased altogether.
* Public access to the Beehouse is restricted until
funds are available to complete the restoration of this
unique building.
|
Father Basil Noseda tending the
bees in 1948 |
