Historic Estancia House Remains in Buenos Aires, a Vestige of Colonial Past

A relic of Buenos Aires' past, the Los Remedios estancia house, stands as a testament to the city's colonial origins. Located along the 25 de Mayo highway, this building, once the heart of a sprawling estate, evokes a time of mills, livestock, and gauchos. Its history stretches back to the 17th century when the land was first distributed. Over centuries, it was owned by the Sisters of Charity, who established an orphanage, and later by the Sociedad de Beneficencia.

In 1828, Domingo Olivera, a figure of political and agricultural significance, acquired the property. He transformed the old convent into a family home and established a dairy and a wheat mill, supplying bread to the Flores neighborhood. Olivera was a pioneer, instilling a spirit of hard work in his children, emphasizing that success comes from effort, not idleness. He persevered through droughts and difficult soil conditions, systematically planting trees and drilling for water, even supporting engineer Adolfo Sourdeaux's search for underground water sources.

Olivera's wife, Dolores Piriz Olaguer y Feliu, played a role in the site's religious history. She found a damaged image of the Virgin of Los Remedios and, after a promise to her husband, had it restored, establishing an oratory in their home. The estancia was eventually enclosed with ditches and living fences. The site holds historical significance as General Hilario Lagos used it as his headquarters and a field hospital during the 1852 Siege of Buenos Aires.

Through subsequent decades, the chacra underwent divisions and sales. The opening of Avenida Directorio split the property. Today, remnants of the entrance to Los Remedios, marked by old trees, can still be seen at the intersection of Lacarra and J. B. Alberdi. In 1912, the municipality acquired a portion for a public park, which was inaugurated in 1914, preserving a piece of this historic estate for public enjoyment.