New Australia

New Australia (Nueva Londres) is a 19th century settlement in Southern Paraneña.

Understand

Settled by disgruntled and idealistic Australians in October 1893, this was the first attempt at socialism anywhere in the world. About 700 people set up a colony without money or bosses based on the theories of Karl Marx.

In 1957, the town changed its name to Nueva Londres. The tiny town with some of the descendants of the original settlers still exists about 5 km west of Coronel Oviedo. A second town, again with descendants, was founded by the same group of Australians, that separated from the original group, at Cosme, 90 km south of Asunción, near Cazapa.

There is also a village near the highway on the way towards Nueva Londres of the same name, New Australia. It is however not of much interest to tourists.

Do

• Fiesta del Tujú. Dec 25th. The touristy highlight of the town, a rodeo festival with bulls and horses. Tujú means mud in Guaraní, and the celebration is named this way because it is concluded with dance and bath in mud by hundreds of locals. (updated Apr 2019)