August Fiebig, violin maker, also breeds Ligurian bees brought from Italy to Kangaroo Island, South Australia
Soiuth Australia's Kangaroo Island Ligurian bee with (insets) a plaque near Penneshaw honouring August Fiebig's contribution and a violin made in 1891 by Fiebig.
Violin image courtesy National Museum of Australia
Violin maker August Fiebig – also a familiar figure as a double bass player with 19th Century orchestras in Adelaide – made another special contribution to South Australia in his other interest as a master beekeeper.
Fiebig, who came to Adelaide in 1882, worked with brother Carl in the violin-making business in Pirie Street, Adelaide city. As one of the many beekeepers in South Australia, August had bees flying in and out of the top-floor window of the business.
A.E. Bonney, secretary of the South Australian Beekeepers Association, was credited with urging the import of the docile and productive Ligurian bees to be protected on Kangaroo Island.
In the early 1880s, the bees were imported by the South Australian Chamber of Manufacturers and, in a world first in 1885 for protecting a species, the South Australian government declared Kangaroo Island a sanctuary for the Lugurians. They remain today the only known colony of pure Ligurian bees left in the world.
August Fiebig is credited with starting the first Ligurian apiary in South Australia and conserving the genetic heritage of the breed in his hives. August Fiebig sent his first batch of Ligurians to customers on Kangaroo Island in 1887. He did operate his own apiary at Hog Bay on the island but his son Rudolph apparently did most of the bee work there.
Fiebig continued with his instrument making in Pirie Street. His grandson and great grandson were also beekeepers at the apiary he set up at One Tree Hil, north of Adelaide.
