Riverbank Hive

WHERE NATURE MEETS CITY

Perched atop Adelaide Convention Centre’s Central Building, the Riverbank Hive is a thriving rooftop apiary comprising six beehives and more than 250,000 European honeybees. Created by the Adelaide Convention Centre team in partnership with award-winning South Australian beekeeper Jake Leske, the intiative supports urban biodiversity while creating a sanctuary for one of nature’s most important pollinators.

Celebrating Adelaide’s unique identity as a ‘city in a park’, each hive is named after one of the city’s iconic green spaces, creating a meaningful connection between the bees, their urban home and the landscape around them. Represented across the six hives are: Linear Park, Botanic Park, Elder Park, Bonython Park, Pinky Flat and Red Gum Park.

Supporting Urban biodiversity

Riverbank Hive is a living example of Adelaide Convention Centre’s commitment to sustainability and urban biodiversity.

As a global leader in sustainable events, Adelaide Convention Centre is committed to creating positive environmental impact through initiatives that support healthy ecosystems, strengthen connections to place, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Bees play a vital role in pollinating plants and supporting food production. By fostering a thriving urban environment, the Riverbank Hive helps raise awareness of the essential role pollinators play in our everyday lives. It is one of many initiatives in our sustainability journey, and perhaps our sweetest yet. 

From Hive to Table

Riverbank Hive adds a new chapter to Adelaide Convention Centre’s Honest Goodness story, showcasing the flavour of South Australia through hyper-local honey harvested onsite. Produced just metres from the Centre’s kitchen, the honey is a true expression of place, capturing the unique flavours of Adelaide’s Riverbank. With each hive expected to produce up to 50-60 kilograms of honey annually, the harvest will feature across Adelaide Convention Centre’s menu, as well as breakfast offerings at Home Ground Restaurant & Bar.

Meet our Beekepers

Behind the Riverbank Hive are Adelaide Convention Centre’s trained in-house apiarists, Callan Berry and Melinda Fleetwood. Long-standing members of the Centre’s culinary team, the pair combine nearly a decade of experience at the Centre, with eight years of personal beekeeping experience. Working alongside Executive Chef Gavin Robertson, Callan and Melinda (pictured) oversee hive health, colony management and honey harvesting, helping bring this unique sustainability initiative to life.

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