Hi Paul,
Good to find you and your post.
I'm also a newbie and in the Otways (Wongarra, to the east of Apollo Bay).
How did it go with the new super?
My bees have only been here 6 weeks or so, in the single/brood box. So it's a young colony and they're still drawing down the outer two frames. My situation sounds similar to yours - lots of activity and brood, but no capped honey. The brood frames do have honey in the corners, but it's uncapped. I might try adding the super too - thanks Idee.
It is cool, wet and windy here - which probably explains why the big beekeeper operations tend to be north and east of the mountains and inland, where the low clouds don't blow in from the Southern Ocean. I sometimes wonder if it's just too wet for them (highest rainfall in the state etc). But I've met beekeepers at the local markets who seem to make a living, so it must be ok...?
The yellow flowering weed *may* be Ragwort. It's toxic to livestock and landholders have to remove it (usually by spraying, sadly. But you can pull it out too). It's prevalent on roadsides. Apparently some of the toxins can make it into the honey, but not at levels that are toxic to humans. I hope.
I'm not sure what it's like in your neck of the woods, but we're surrounded by the National Park and vast forests of Manna Gum, Blue Gum, Messmate etc. Is it similar where you are? They flower in summer to autumn but haven't come on yet. I'm hoping that, like you, the pasture flowers keep them ticking over until the forest pollen flows. And that, when the pollen comes on, the honey starts to flow too.
Anyway, love to hear how you're getting on.
Nic.