Honouring Country: Australian Manuka Honey, Native Landscapes and a Shared Responsibility

Australia Day means different things to different people. 

For many Australians, it is a moment of pride, reflection and connection. For others, it carries a deeper reminder of histories that deserve acknowledgement, respect and understanding. 

At Gather By, we believe the most meaningful way forward is not found in argument, but in responsibility. 

Responsibility to Country. 
Responsibility to each other. 
Responsibility to the future. 

Our work with Australian Manuka honey is grounded in this belief. Every jar represents not just a natural product, but a commitment to restoring native landscapes, supporting biodiversity, and working alongside First Nations people to care for Country in a way that honours both past and future. 

Australia: The True Home of Manuka 

Manuka honey comes from plants in the Leptospermum family. What many people do not realise is that Australia is home to more than 80 native varieties of Leptospermum, far more than any other country in the world. 

These plants have evolved over millions of years across Australia’s diverse landscapes, from coastal heathlands and river systems to inland forests and mountain ranges. This long evolution has shaped plants that are resilient, complex and uniquely adapted to Australian conditions. 

This extraordinary botanical diversity is one of the reasons Australian Manuka honey displays such remarkable variation, strength and complexity. No two regions are the same. No two nectar profiles are identical. The land itself is reflected in the honey it produces. 

At Gather By, we have spent years researching these native plants. We have tested nectar profiles, studied flowering cycles, and identified specific varieties with naturally high levels of DHA. DHA is the precursor compound that bees convert into MGO, the compound responsible for Manuka honey’s unique bioactivity. 

This work has been supported by independent research, including studies conducted with the University of the Sunshine Coast, which have shown Australian Manuka honey to contain higher phenolic content and greater phenolic diversity than many international counterparts. These naturally occurring compounds contribute to the depth, potency and complexity found in Australian Manuka honey. 

Australian Manuka Versus New Zealand Manuka 

There has been much global debate about Manuka honey. What matters most to us is science, transparency and truth. 

Australian Manuka honey: 

This is not about competition. It is about recognising the extraordinary natural assets that exist here in Australia and ensuring they are protected, respected and valued for generations to come. 

True authenticity is not claimed. It is proven through science, transparency and traceability. 

Caring for Country Together 

A central part of Gather By’s mission is working in partnership with First Nations people to establish and grow our Medicinal Honey Forests™. 

These collaborations are built on respect for traditional knowledge, shared stewardship of land, and long-term thinking. We are proud to work alongside First Nations landholders who understand Country not as a resource to be extracted, but as a living system that must be cared for. 

For tens of thousands of years, Country has been managed through deep understanding, observation and responsibility. Our role is not to replace that knowledge, but to listen, learn and work together to restore landscapes in ways that honour that wisdom. 

Our Medicinal Honey Forests are designed to: 

This is regeneration in action. 
Not marketing. Not symbolism. 
Real trees, real landscapes, real partnerships. 

A New Farming Model for the Future 

Traditional agriculture often clears land. Our model does the opposite. 

The more Manuka honey we sell, the more native Australian plants we put back into the ground. 

Each Medicinal Honey Forest is planted with multiple Leptospermum varieties, alongside bee fodder and companion species. This diversity supports longer flowering seasons, healthier bees, stronger honey yields and improved ecosystem resilience. 

By keeping bees onsite within a balanced ecosystem, we reduce stress on bee populations, support natural foraging behaviour, and minimise the need for long-distance hive transportation. Healthier bees produce better honey, and better honey supports healthier landscapes. 

It is a farming model that works with nature, not against it. 

What This Means on Australia Day 

On a day that carries different meanings for different people, we believe action matters more than words. 

Honouring Country means restoring it. 
Respecting history means building a better future. 
Pride in Australia means caring for what makes this land unique. 

Every jar of Gather By Manuka honey is part of that commitment. Not as a statement, but as a tangible contribution to regeneration, responsibility and respect for Country. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Is Manuka honey native to Australia? 
Yes. Manuka honey comes from Leptospermum plants, and Australia is home to more than 80 native varieties of these species. 

Why is Australian Manuka honey different? 
Australia’s botanical diversity, climate and soils produce Manuka honey with exceptional phenolic content, complexity and naturally high MGO potential. 

What is a Medicinal Honey Forest? 
A Medicinal Honey Forest is a deliberately designed ecosystem of native Australian plants that supports bees, biodiversity and sustainable honey production. 

Do you work with First Nations communities? 
Yes. We are proud to partner with First Nations landholders to establish and manage Medicinal Honey Forests, guided by respect for Country and long-term stewardship. 

How does buying Manuka honey help the environment? 
Every sale contributes directly to planting native Australian species and expanding regenerative landscapes. The more honey we sell, the more Country we restore. 

Responsibility Is the Way Forward 

Australia Day does not need louder voices. It needs better outcomes. 

For us, that means choosing regeneration over extraction. Partnership over rhetoric. Long-term stewardship over short-term gain. 

This is not about symbolism. It is about responsibility, measured in trees planted, landscapes restored and relationships built on trust. 

At Gather By, this is how we honour Country. 
Not once a year, but every day.