top of page

SOCIEDAD ANONIMA,
MERCANTIL Y PASTORIL,
WATSON Y GODORNIZ

CIA. LDA.

 

Roy John Watson, born on August 12, 1880, in Freshfield, Lancashire, England, exhibited a restless and adventurous spirit from a young age.

After completing his studies in Bristol, he worked for the Western Railway, but the stable life did not satisfy him. In 1898, at just 18 years old, he decided to move to Libreville, Africa, where he worked for a Liverpool-based company in the construction of railroads. However, the harsh climate conditions took a toll on his health, and two years later, he returned to England.

Fotografía en blanco y negro de la costa de San Julián. En el fondo se ven un par de galpones y los mástiles de una embarcación de carga. En primer plano, hay un gran terreno lleno de fardos de lana, con varios hombres trabajando y tres carretas tiradas por caballos descargando más fardos. a lo lejos de aprecia la bahia.

The coast of San Julián crowded with wool bales.

The promise of opportunities in the Argentine Patagonia caught his interest. Hearing stories from his fellow countrymen about the prosperity in that region, Watson decided to set sail for Punta Arenas in 1900. There, he met Roberto Patterson and Donald Munro, who convinced him to move to San Julián. In June of that same year, the three men arrived together in this town.

Fotografía antigua en blanco y negro de un grupo de personas posando en el campo. En primer plano, se ven tres hombres de pie, y tres mujeres sentadas frente a ellos, una de las cuales sostiene un niño. Más adelante, hay un hombre sentado en el suelo.

George, Will, and Jim Patterson standing behind Elisabeth Fraser, Sara Murray de Fraser, her son George, and Margaret Fraser, with Roy John Watson seated; at the 'Mata Grande' ranch.

In San Julián, Watson began working at the 'Mata Grande' ranch owned by the Patterson brothers. However, rural life failed to hold his interest for long.

​

After two years, he moved to Buenos Aires, where he secured representation for a Liverpool firm to purchase sheepskins in Patagonia. This new responsibility led him to travel regularly between Punta Arenas and Puerto Deseado.

Fotografía en blanco y negro del interior de un comercio a principios de 1910. La imagen muestra grandes estanterías repletas de mercadería, un mostrador grande con personas trabajando detrás, y algunos artículos colgados del techo.

Interior of the general store 'La Mercantil,' Río Gallegos.

In 1905, Watson was hired as an accountant by the Compañía Mercantil y Pastoril (La Mercantil), a commercial house in Río Gallegos with headquarters in Santa Cruz. Thanks to his dedication and skills, he quickly rose to the position of manager.

Fotografía de la fachada de un comercio antiguo. En la imagen, un grupo de personas está posando frente al comercio. En la calle se pueden ver dos autos antiguos

Comercio "Watson y Gordoniz" de Puerto Santa Cruz, 1916.

In 1907, Roy Watson formed a partnership with Joaquín Gordoniz, an entrepreneur from Mendoza. Together, they founded the company Watson y Gordoniz Cía. Ltda., establishing themselves in Santa Cruz as commission agents and buyers of local products.

​

The company grew rapidly, opening branches in Piedra Buena and San Julián, becoming one of the most important commercial houses in the region.

fotografia antigua aerea donde se puede ver como el edificio sobresale en la localidad por la altura que tiene.

Aerial photograph of San Julián, highlighting the Watson and Gordoniz building.

The construction of the Watson and Gordoniz building in San Julián began shortly thereafter.

 

This impressive building stood out for its European style in the middle of Patagonia, with over 15 meters of facade, a marble-floored entrance hall, two interior levels, a basement, and an ostentatious staircase adorned with plaster moldings in the main room.​

Fotografía de la fachada del edificio en la década del 30, se ve en primer plano un grupo de niños posando y por detrás un antiguo surtidor de combustible, las persianas del edificio están bajas.

Photograph of the building's facade in the 1930s, showing the fuel pump at the Watson and Gordoniz building.

In 1935, after decades of success, Roy Watson and Joaquín Gordoniz decided to part ways and focus on their respective rural activities. Watson retired to manage his "Rincón Grande" estate, located on the right bank of the Santa Cruz River, a property he had begun developing in 1907.

En esta imagen se presentan tres fotografías. Dos de ellas muestran la parte superior de la fachada del edificio. En la primera, se observan fragmentos de hormigón quebrado, como si alguna vez hubieran sostenido algo. En la segunda, sobre esas marcas, se colocaron las letras de la frase "Sociedad Anónima Mercantil y Pastoril Watson y Gordoniz y Cía. Lda." La tercera fotografía, ubicada debajo de las anteriores, muestra la fachada del edificio que Watson tenía en Puerto Santa Cruz. Es una imagen de 1916, donde se puede ver que utilizaban letras en relieve para identificar la marca de sus edificios.

On the building's facade, the scars left by the original letters that Watson and Gordoniz placed as a mark of their company can still be seen.

​

The same sign design can be seen in the photograph of the Watson and Gordoniz store in Puerto Santa Cruz.

bottom of page