Estancia History
The main house is steeped in family history with many references to the days of the Jesuits who first organized farming in the area.
The "potreros" (large enclosures) in the three centuries of Spanish colonization were used for breeding mules that were then driven up to Bolivia to work in the silver mines.
The Begg family first came to the area in the early part of the twentieth century, and ironically Robin Begg (grandfather) had to travel as far as Bolivia to search for tall mules to aid the Burma campaign during World War II. Of the 650 mules he and a group of Argentine gauchos accompanied on a ship to India, along with sheep for meat and cows for milk, only three died.
Robin built his own beautiful home on a hill looking out over what is now the northern part of the farm. Shortly after the house was completed he died, and his widow Louie Begg started taking paying guests in the 50s. The guest book, started in 1945, contains lyrical definitions of the estancia - "heaven among the hill tops," "idyllic retreat" - and evokes halcyon days of shooting, horseback riding, fishing, swimming, eating, cow-milking, egg collecting, wild flower picking and looking for mushrooms
"Many, many thanks Louie; we shall return here, in spite of your road," wrote one guest on April 5, 1964. Louie lived to see three centuries, and passed away at the age of 104 just a few years ago. Today her grandsons Robin and Kevin Begg and their families run the estancia on a day-to-day basis, whilst their father Robert can often be seen riding the hills checking his prized cattle. The farm now breeds Aberdeen Angus and horses instead of mules, but the Beggs insist on maintaining rural values and traditions. The culture of the gaucho and reverence of the horse is strong and bring with them the best traditions of Argentina. The locals gather for annual religious or music festivals and ride horseback to the venues dressed in their best attire and riding their sharpest steeds.
Many of the estancia buildings are several hundred years old, and have been lovingly restored with traditional materials to reflect the history of the area. One of the original cattle brands and symbols of the area ‘The Bell’, can still be seen etched into the fireplace in the sitting room.
Today, the walls echo with the laughter of the fourth generation of the Begg family to live in this beautiful part of the world, but the spirit of the estancia from days gone by still lingers . . .
