James Carroll, beemaster, and the illusive Queensland Apicultural Journal

By Peter Barrett, Caloundra, Queensland. Author on books related to the 19th Century
introduction of honey bees into Australasia and Oceania.
On one occasion during my research on the internet, by chance I came across a single reference to
this beekeeping journal. I first became aware of its existence in 1995 through my discovery of its
mention in Trevor Weatherhead’s 1986 Boxes to Bar Hives, beekeeping history of Queensland.
“In October, 1916, the Queensland Beekeepers’ Association started a journal called the
Queensland Apicultural Journal. The first copy was complimentary to Queensland beekeepers
and after that the subscription was to be 2/6 per annum. This was published quarterly until
October 1921. A supplementary copy was printed in December, 1922 and this, it would seem, was
the last issue.”
My quest to access copies began, either directly or via inter-library loan, to see if it had any
contribution to make to my latest book. My Google search in October 2006 pointed to a copy
being held by the library of the Queensland Department of Primary Industries. However, my
request to the DPI librarian revealed no holding of this journal in their collection. I contacted
Trevor but he could not recall where he had sighted the copies referred to in his book. I then
searched the catalogues of the State libraries of Australia, the British Library, and particularly, the
“worldcat,org” online resource. 1 All failed to locate any holdings. The fate of the copy once held
by the DPI is unknown. Given the extreme rarity of this publication I must assume it was the DPI
copy that Weatherhead saw. The DPI’s “beeline” web page, 2 still accessible in April 2009,
continues to list the QAJ amongst its resources, although the site seems to be frozen time –
apparently last updated in 1997.
Enter that invaluable research facility – Google Book Search. This indicated two volumes were
held by the Davis Campus library at the University of California. My inter-library loan champion
at my local Caloundra library, Maree Millard, made the approach, only to be told the University
does not satisfy requests from international libraries or researchers.
My next attempt in April 2009 found a kind hearted white knight by the name of Barbara
Hegenbart, a librarian at UC Davis. She suggested some methods of approach and I passed these
on to Maree again – more chance of success I thought by an institution to institution approach.
“OK Peter, I’ll do my best” said Maree.
While waiting upon a response from UC Davis, I resorted to my own efforts. Google’s Book
Search facility sometimes provides full text viewing of books, in other instances several pages are
made available, or more frequently, what they call a “snippet” is supplied - about an inch / 25 mm
high strip of viewable text. In other frustrating cases no text preview whatsoever is provided. The
poor quality image of the title page of Volume I of the QAJ pictured below indicates it includes
the years 1904 (or maybe it’s 1901) to 1919, price 5 shillings.
After many search attempts in the “Search this book” facility, some successful, I managed to
locate the article titled “The Introduction of Bees into Queensland”, 3 the existence of which was
hinted at by an earlier and almost forgotten research effort. Book Search indicated it existed in the
Vol. 1 No. 1, October 1916 issue, page 1911. I doubt the page number provided is correct – it
could, however, refer to the year 1911 instead, possibly garnered from the inaccessible page
heading. Book Search also states there is another edition dated 1919 but no text searching on it is

1
“WorldCat is the world's largest network of library content and services.”
2
http://www.honeybee.com.au/Library/beeline/a97/Autumn97.html
3
Another article is a requim for Wilhelm Abram. Other subjects covered include Daniel and H.L. Jones;
Goodna, West Maitland, Tewantin and other beekeeping centres; brood comb and other beekeeping topics.
available. Given the above findings I remain unsure when the QAJ commenced publication – was
it 1901 or 1904 or 1910?

Despite the limited text searching available in this instance I still managed to extract the
following disjointed snippets – “... This was in 1854, when this State was a part of New South
Wales. ... In 1864 the writer assisted in cutting out a large swarm of bees from a huge Eucalypt in
the neighbourhood of Laidley, further proof that the old strain of bees was innately prolific and
great workers. In those days, ... The writer's first contact with bees need not be set on record, for
the very good reason that it was an experience the novice usually regrets on his first introduction.
… As early as 1872, Mr. Carroll was awarded a silver medal at the Ipswich Show, for bar frame
hives; and in 1874, a medal in New South Wales ... the hives being for the most part gin cases or
candle boxes. To Mr. J. Carroll, of Enoggera, belongs the distinction of establishing the first
modern bee-farm in Australia. From 1872 to 1880 Mr. Carroll sent hundreds of ... ”
With such clues, particularly the last one, and the likelihood that the QAJ would not prove to be
the gold mine I’d hoped, I resorted to the valuable web site “Australian Newspapers beta” run by
the National Library of Australia. I decided to concentrate on those articles by or about James
Carroll. Therein I found many beekeeping articles which appeared between 1870 and 1877 in the
Queenslander, many being Jas. Carroll’s “The Honey Bee” column, as well as those in the
Brisbane Courier. Given the boon to researchers the internet has provided of late, I deduced this
online facility had far more to offer than the early 20th Century target of my original search.
Carroll, it transpires, was active in shipping bee hives into the Pacific islands and to ports both
north and south of Brisbane in the early 1870s. He wrote “I have great pleasure in stating that
I have sent hives stocked with bees to all parts of the colony [ie., Queensland] and to New
South Wales, Victoria, and the Fiji Islands, with the greatest success.” 4 So, here are the
examples I located:

4
Brisbane Courier, 12 Dec. 1872, p.4
 • Amongst the extensive manifest of the Australian Steam Navigation Company’s 214 ton
S.S. Black Swan, 5 under Captain H.B. Bristow, which departed for Bowen and
Townsville on 12 April, was “1 bee hive”, consigned by W. [sic.] Carroll. 6 (Brisbane
Courier, 13 Apr. 1871, p.2)

S.S. Black Swan 7

• With 1 case of honey and 1 hive of bees on its lengthy manifest, the latter consigned by J.
Carroll, the 504 ton S.S. City of Brisbane 8 under Captain J. M'Lean, departed for Sydney
on 6 July (Brisbane Courier, 8 July 1872, p.2)

Paddle steamer City of Brisbane

5
iron steam ship built 1853 in Glascow, lengthened to 174ft in 1874, 20.4ft breadth, 210 tons; run by ASN
Co., Melbourne, from 1868
6
Amongst the passengers was listed a J. W. Carroll
7
http://www.flotilla-australia.com/images/black-swan-slq-108456p.jpg
8
Paddle steamer, built 1863 Glascow, 633grt, 504nrt, 230.8ft x 27.3ft, until 1880 owned by ASN Co.; Refer
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=1658
Refer also http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm#city-of-brisbane-asn
Iron paddle steamer, 2 masts schooner rigged. Scuttled 21st March 1925
 • On the same day aboard the 387 ton James Paterson 9 under Captain C.E. Saunders,
bound for Mackay, Bowen, Townsville and Cardwell, Carroll shipped to Bowen another
hive of bees (Brisbane Courier, 8 July 1872, p.2)
• Bound for Maryborough, Gladstone and Rockhampton aboard the 350 ton S.S. Yarra
Yarra 10 under Captain Edmondstone, Carroll consigned one hive of bees to
Rockhampton. (Brisbane Courier, 2 Aug. 1872, p.2). 11
• On the S.S. Lady Bowen 12 outbound for Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone and
Rockhampton on 3 September under Captain W. Cottier, and accompanying a
clanjamphry of supplies including 2 horses and 1 case of plants for the Acclimatisation
Society, was “1 hive bees, Carroll;” for the last port of call. (Brisbane Courier, 4 Sept.
1872, p.2)
• The S.S. James Paterson under Captain F. Brookes carried another of Carroll’s
consignments for Rockhampton: “1 package hives, 1 hive bees” (Brisbane Courier, 29
Nov. 1872, p.4)
• On 31 December the S.S. Queensland, 13 287 tons, Captain J. M'Lean, departed for
Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton. Aboard was “1 hive bees,
Carroll;” (Brisbane Courier, 1 Jan. 1873, p.2)
• Strangely, on 20 November aboard the S.S. City of Brisbane into the Port of Brisbane
from Sydney under Captain F.C. Knight, was “1 case bees, J. Carroll” (Brisbane Courier,
21 Nov. 1873, p.2). Why the bees were inwards to Carroll, typically an exporter, is a
mystery, however, it’s possible they were the result of a failed attempt to source Italian
bees.

9
Named after the ASN Co’s first general manager. Lawson (1909), p.33
Refer also http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm#james-paterson-asn
388 gross tons. Lbd: 186'3" x 23'2" x 11'6". Iron steamship, 3 masts schooner rigged built in Glasgow. 1884
hulked at Pyrmont. Sold and stripped of all valuable fittings, she was abandoned on the Ross River bank,
Townsville same year
10
Not a young ship, ran between Melbourne and Sydney in 1854
Refer also http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm#yarra-yarra-asn
Iron paddle steamer built in Scotland. 1862 lengthened to be 183'5" x 30' x 11'7" with tonnage as 555 gross.
As a passenger - cargo vessel, was placed on the Sydney - Melbourne trade route until 1857 when moved to
the Brisbane run. 1871 became familiar to the Grafton trade. Lost when overwhelmed by several big seas
on Oyster Bank, Newcastle, 15 July 1877. All hands, numbering eighteen, were lost.
11
While browsing the other shipping notices I spotted a consignment for London aboard the ship Storm
King: from Henry Box and Son, 19 cases of bees wax and 4 quarter-casks of honey
12
Built 1864, arrived in Brisbane 1864, same year as the Lady Young. Refer Lawson (1909) p.32
Refer also http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm
527 gross tons, 425 net. Lbd: 210'5" x 25'7" x 11'5". Iron Paddle steamer, 2 masts brigantine rigged. Built
in Glasgow for the Queensland S N Co's Sydney - Brisbane passenger trade . Of ASN Co as at 1868.
October 1889, she was converted into a fully rigged 4 masted schooner and was wrecked near Cardwell
Queensland on Kennedy Shoal August 19th 1894
13
Refer http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm#queensland-qsn
373 gross tons, 287 net. Lbd: 186'7" x 23' x 11'4". Iron Paddle steamer, built in Glasgow, 2 masts possibly
schooner rigged. Queensland Steam Navigation Company's first vessel built for the coastal passenger trade,
worked the Sydney - Brisbane - Northern Queensland ports, became part of ASN Co fleet in May 1868.
Hulked December 1887
 • Under Captain W. Hill, the 421 ton S.S. Lady Young 14 departed for Sydney, on 20
December with “1 box bees, Carroll” (Brisbane Courier, 22 Dec. 1873, p.2)

Iron paddle steamer Lady Young

• “3 colonies bees” were consigned aboard the 626 ton S.S. Florence Irving i for Sydney on
24 August, Captain R.M. Phillips (Brisbane Courier, 25 Aug. 1874, p.2)
Carroll advertised his “Improved Humane Barframe” hives for 25 shillings and 35 shillings
stocked “to be seen at work in the Botanic Gardens, or at his residence, Bee-Hive Cottage,
Milton-road.” 15 Shipping, I expect, would have cost extra.
Many topics were discussed in his “Honey Bee” column in the Queenslander which were
repeated in the Brisbane Courier. These included the Italian honey bee, a vigourous discussion
on the benefits or otherwise of the Dzierzon hive; 16 hive styles including the Quinby, Pettitt,
Kedder, Neighbour, Langstroth, Woodbury and Milton (this last was Carroll’s own); 17 and
Agricultural Show prizes at venues such as Ipswich and the East Moreton region, of which
Carroll took his share
The opening paragraph of the “Introduction” story I was most interested in commences with “The
study of beginnings is ever a fascinating one, especially in new countries such as Queensland.
The question as to who first introduced bees here is as yet an unfathomed mystery, nevertheless,
we trust that other writers in the columns of our new Bee Journal …” No revelations then, but
such are the disappointments ever present in a researcher’s quest.

14
Iron paddle steamer, built 1864, run by ASN Co. from 1868, scrapped 1881; arrived in Brisbane 1864.
Refer http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=1659
Refer also http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm
523 gross tons, 421 net. Lbd: 210'5" x 25'7" x 11'5". 2 masts brigantine rigged, built in Glasgow for the
Queensland S N Co's coastal passenger trade as Sydney - North Queensland. Broken up 1881
15
Brisbane Courier, 13 Aug. 1870, p.1
16
Of which J. Isambert was a strong defender
17
Brisbane Courier, 12 Dec. 1872, p.4
End Notes
i
From http://oceans1.customer.netspace.net.au/nsw-main.html Iron screw steamer, Built London, 1864, as a paddle steamer
of 453 tons; Converted to twin screw and re-rigged and lengthened 1873. ASN Co. Length 241 ft. From Sydney to Brisbane,
struck rocks on the outer light near Port Stephens and abandoned, 4 December 1877. An attempt was made to raise her but
divers reported extensive damage.
Refer also http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hrsn.htm#florence-irving-asn
schooner rigged of 2 masts. Purchased by ASN Co April 1865. Lengthened, in 1873 was 920 gross and 626 net tons.
Worked the Queensland ports in passenger-cargo capacity for most of her career. Whilst heading for Cooktown from
Sydney she was wrecked December 4th 1877 near Port Stephens, NSWs in heavy fog
From Lawson, Will (1909) Steam in the Southern Pacific, Gordon & Gotch, Wellington NZ “In the development of the
Richmond many steamers, long since passed out of service, were then renowned. The Agnes Irving — afterwards wrecked
at the Macleay — the Ballina, and the Florence Irving — sold to the A.S.N. Col for the Brisbane trade — were all popular
boats in their day, …” (p.125) Refer web page
archive.org/stream/steaminsouthernp00lawsuoft/steaminsouthernp00lawsuoft_djvu.txt
SLQ has a copy, see http://srlopac.slq.qld.gov.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=714917