Babydoll Sheep History
In the Beginning....
The Southdown sheep has been present in Australia since the early colonists. There are indications the breed was here in the very late 1700’s, so it is not surprising that in 1805, the Reverend Samuel Marsden wrote to Sir Joseph Banks telling of the presence of Southdowns in New South Wales. The Bryant Brothers who arrived in Tasmania in 1824 had Southdowns with them but the first traceable descendants of today’s Southdowns arrived in Hobart in 1826 as part of the Cressy Company’s shipment. These particular Southdowns came from the well-known and well established flock of John Ellman.
1920's - 1930's....
Then around the 1920’s-30’s the speckled bare face had given way to a wool covered face and even shorter legs and well-muscled body. This type was bred for a few decades before a further transformation took place with bloodlines from New Zealand being added to the mix to produce today’s Modern Southdown……a taller, well-muscled sheep with less wool on the face, being more appropriate for the meat trade for which it was intended.
Our Main Interest....
But we are only interested in one of these types…..the short-statured, well-muscled sheep of the 1920’s - 1960's…..the “Original” Southdown of today.
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In 1925, the Metcalfs purchased their first imported ram from Mr Brooks in New Zealand, followed by another ram from Sir Walter Halsey in England. They were both so successful that further imports from New Zealand and England were made, including a record priced Punchbowl ram from New Zealand.
Their breeding was very successful and they won many championships, including the coveted Southdown Breeders Cup in 1949. The Southdown had remained a short legged, stocky, little sheep for all these years, but that was soon to change.