29/05/2026
Rueben Charles OAM — A Legacy in Tasmanian Beekeeping
Rueben Charles OAM was one of the quiet architects behind Tasmania’s world-renowned leatherwood honey industry. A beekeeper, innovator, and industry pioneer, he dedicated his life to building a commercial beekeeping operation that helped shape the modern Tasmanian honey sector.
In 1995, Rueben Charles was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the beekeeping industry; a national recognition of his contribution to Australian apiculture. His work helped elevate Tasmanian honey onto the global stage at a time when the industry was still developing its export markets and quality standards.
Alongside his wife Beryl, Rueben helped grow a commercial apiary that would become part of the foundation of what is now a multi-generational family legacy. His early commitment to quality, scale, and professionalism helped position Tasmanian honey; particularly leatherwood as one of the most distinctive honeys in the world.
Today, his name lives on through the Rueben Charles Memorial Trophy, awarded annually for the World’s Best Leatherwood Honey at the Tasmanian Beekeepers Association conference. It remains one of the most respected honours in the Australian honey industry, recognising excellence in a honey unique to Tasmania’s wild, temperate rainforests.
Rueben’s legacy continues to be felt across the industry; in the standards he helped establish, the pathways he helped create for export, and the recognition Tasmania now holds as a premium honey-producing region.
A life dedicated to bees, forests, and the craft of honey. We are forever grateful and proud of the work you achieved.