About Us
Pictured: Minou, Lachlan, Craig, Sandra & Isabella
We are dedicated to mixed cropping, Merino sheep, and livestock feed production. Our property covers 4,251 hectares (10,504 acres) of picturesque rolling farmland in the Great Southern region of Western Australia. We are located 18 km east of Broomehill and 22 km west of Gnowangerup on the Broomehill-Gnowangerup Road.
Nestled within the upper Pallinup River catchment, Woodyarrup enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate characterized by cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers, with an average annual rainfall of 430 mm.
Woodyarrup has been a labour of love for the Dewar family since 1979, when Pauline and Gavin Dewar acquired the property. Today, the legacy continues under the dedicated stewardship of Craig, Sandra, Lachlan and Minou, who ensure the ongoing success and growth of our family-run enterprise.
The three pillars of the Woodyarrup business are:
Merino Sheep: We currently join 2,300 Merino stud ewes, 1,500 Poll Merino stud ewes, and 1,300 commercial ewes.
Cropping: Around 2,600 hectares are sown for the production of wheat, barley, canola, oats, and lupins.
Livestock Feed Supply: The Broomehill Stockfeeds feed mill and transport hub are based on the property, supplying bulk and bagged sheep and cattle feed pellets to local and interstate clients.
Our mission has always been to produce Merino genetics that meet the needs of the WA Merino industry and thrive in our local environment.
In the early 1990s, after five years of working on properties in the East, Stud Master Craig Dewar decided to focus on improving wool qualities while maintaining Woodyarrup's renowned attributes of bone and constitution. To achieve this, we enlisted the expertise of Mr. Philip Russell as stud classer and Dr. Jim Watts as stud consultant, followed by Dr. Paul Swan, who continues to consult with us today.
During the early 1990s, we developed a breeding system that remains in place today, adapting as necessary while staying true to our vision. This system includes:
- Annual typing of stud ewes and sires
- Body weighing
- Fleece weighing
- Fleece testing
- Mothering up lambs
- Artificial insemination
- Embryo transfer
- Collaborating with Sheep Genetics Australia
Woodyarrup is a major supplier of genetics in Western Australia, with our genetics now reaching Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, New Zealand, and South Africa, achieving outstanding success.
Our primary focus is to breed quicker-maturing sheep with sound structure and constitution, carrying super soft wool with a deep, well-defined crimp. We aim for high fleece weights and easy-shearing sheep on a plain body, ensuring high weaning percentages.
We select for:
- High fiber density
- Longer fibers
- Evenly sized fibers
- Cylindrical fibers
- Rich nourishment
- Whiteness
In October 2003, we expanded our program by purchasing stud poll ewes from the Vandez dispersal sale. We are pleased with our progress, focusing on meat attributes while still meeting today's fleece demands. We are open to incorporating outside genetics into the Woodyarrup Poll stud when they align with our vision and enhance our breeding goals.
