Gindoon Babydoll Sheep set to feature woollen boot-wearing small sheep breed at upcoming field day

Mooliabeenee’s Bev Murphy had no idea her life would revolve around tiny sheep sporting knee-high woollen boots until she stumbled upon an ABC Landline episode six years ago.

At the time, Mrs Murphy and her husband Joe were future planning, talking through what they would do in their retirement before breeding “cute sheep” started to become a serious discussion.

It wasn’t until the Landline episode aired that Mrs Murphy knew exactly what she wanted to be doing with her spare time, and the woolly animals she wanted to spend it with.

“I said to my husband ‘They’re what I want, they’re what I want to breed’,” she said.

She said it excited her to know she could breed sheep as pets, which appealed to her as a wildlife carer.

Gindoon Babydoll Sheep is one of six Babydoll sheep studs in WA registered with national body, Babydoll Sheep Breeders Australia.

The couple started with only three Babydolls in 2019, purchased from WA sheep producer Deb Royans — one of the first to establish the breed in WA.

“I got them for my 60th birthday, he (Joe) bought me two ewes and a ram — that was five-and-a-half years ago,” Mrs Murphy said.

“I started off with just the three of them and it’s just grown from there.”

Gindoon Babydoll Sheep is now home to 40 of the dual-purpose meat and wool sheep based on the heritage British sheep breed called Southdown on the 250-acre property halfway between Bindoon and Gingin.

Plans to expand are in the works before the couple officially retire from their day jobs and settle into their lovingly built farm life.

“I bought a ram over from the Eastern States last year to put another bloodline in,” Mrs Murphy said.

“I’ve got three paddocks at the moment and about 70 acres that isn’t paddocked off so the sheep can go out there and roam when they’re not pregnant.”

The Babydoll breed has become known for its easy going temperament, attractive appearance including the Babydoll smile, short stature and deep, well-muscled body.

Mrs Murphy said the sheep were “little barrels on legs”, making them perfect for removing undergrowth in orchards and vineyards, a factor many are considering when turning to more organic horticulture and viticulture practices.

“And they’ve just got such beautiful personalities, they make awesome little pets,” she said.

“The meat is beautiful meat too apparently, not that I’ve ever tried it,” she said.

“I’ve been told from butchers if you say you’ve got a Southdown . . . they expect finely marbled meat that’s beautiful to eat.”

Babydoll sheep began making their mark in WA only in the past few years.

Mrs Murphy said she believes the ABC Landline episode she watched “spurred a lot of people on” in WA.

“I went to a stud tour last year in NSW — they’re very popular in the Eastern States — and it was really interesting to see how they’re running their Babydolls and they’re all working together over there, doing lots of shows,” she said.

“They show their Babydolls against normal types of sheep and at times their Babydolls will win because they’re just gorgeous.

“It’s not just looks, the judges go for their meat and their quality and their stance — those sorts of things.”

Gindoon Babydoll Sheep will attend the Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day this year for the first time after a 2024 Gidgegannup Show volunteer convinced them it would be beneficial for their business.

“He said ‘you’ve got to come to the GSFFD because there will be heaps of people coming through and they need to see these little sheep because they are so cute — they need to know they’re out there’,” Mrs Murphy said.

Gindoon Babydoll Sheep will have six lambs on show, which Mrs Murphy said will be a “real hit” with attendees.

The Gidgegannup Small Farm Field Day is on May 25.

To read the official program, pick up a copy of the May 15 edition of Countryman.