Sugarbag (native honey)

Jessie Hunter Petyarre

Sugarbag is a term used to describe honey collected by native bees who deposit them into sacks on trees. Sometimes these sacks can be quite large, the size of a human head.

For many Aboriginal people in Central Australia, it is a favourite pastime to go and collect sugarbag – a delicious natural treat to bring back to the community. Born in 1957 at Macdonald Downs Station, Jessie is also known as Jessie Petyarre Hunter. She was a keen participant in the batik movement from 1977 to 1989. Jessie comes from a strong family of artists and is daughter of Molly Pwerle.