The Welsh in Patagonia
In Wales in the middle of the 19th century, the Welsh dreamed of a “New Wales” where they could live their lives free from the oppression exercised over them and their culture by the English. They dreamed of a “New Wales” where they could possess and work their own lands and have complete control over their language and culture.
During this time, Argentina was eager to populate the empty regions of Patagonia in order to strengthen its claim over them. Therefore, the Argentine government responded favourably when an opportunity arose to welcome devout and hard working Welsh people to colonise a small corner of land, about 46,000 hectares (114,000 acres) in Patagonia
In May 1865, inspired by the Michael D Jones dream to found a “New Wales”, 160 colonisers sailed from Liverpool on board the clipper “Mimosa”. On the 28th of July, they disembarked at Punta Cuevas near where Puerto Madryn is today. During the voyage, the colonists suffered many hardships. There were numerous deaths, marriages and illnesses. The travellers were sustained by the idea of their “Promised Land” but, on arrival, they were welcomed by the interminable arid wastelands of Patagonia, made even more unwelcoming by a stern winter.
However, with with devotion and hardy resolution, the colonisers ploughed into their work and steadily the colony flourished. The religious convictions of the Welsh ensured that they did not conduct themselves in a warlike manner when the Tehuelche, the indigenous nomadic inhabitants of the area where the Welsh had settled, discovered them. It was not long before the Welsh and the Tehuelche had developed a relationship where they were dependent on each other, especially so in the case of the colonisers. The Welsh referred to the people of the Tehuelche as their “Brothers of the Desert”.
As the Welsh colony in Patagonia flourished and suitable agricultural land became scarce, the colonisers turned their sights towards the Andes. In 1885, thirty horsemen, known as the “Rifleros”, followed the Río Chubut west. On the 25th of November, after travelling 700 kilometres (435 miles), the Rifleros reached the Craig Goch ridge and descended into a misty valley where Trevelin is today. The following morning they saw before them one of the most beautiful and fruitful valleys they had ever seen, with snow covered Andean peaks providing a perfect backdrop. The horsemen were so enchanted by what they saw that they uttered the famous words “What a beautiful valley” that named the valley Cwm Hyfryd in Welsh. The Rifleros' expedition expanded the colony towards the Andes by a further 600 kilometres (375 miles) and added 125,000 hectares (310,000 acres) to its lands.
