Llandovery’s Victorian Benefactor
- History of Llandovery
- 19th century
A Welshman in Australia
The History
Daniel Lloyd Jones was born in 1823 to a farming family at Pen-y-bont, a 113-acre holding between Llandovery and Cynghordy. He left Wales at a young age and arrived in Australia in 1846, already having accumulated considerable wealth.
Within a few years, Daniel and his brother Bowen had acquired a lease of around 60,000 acres at Avenel in south-eastern Australia. When their partnership ended in 1853, Daniel remained at Avenel and developed the property into a prosperous cattle station.
Life at Avenel
Running such a vast property required a large workforce. Drovers and boundary-riders worked with the cattle, while other workers cleared land and built fences across the estate. The work was demanding. Trees were cleared by hand and bullocks and horses were used to move the heavy timber. Wooden fences were later replaced with wire, while bushfires repeatedly threatened the estate. It was in this Australian landscape that Daniel Lloyd Jones found himself living close to the Kelly family. One of their sons, Ned Kelly, would later become one of Australia's most notorious outlaws.
A life of wealth
In 1856, Daniel married Fairlie Gordon Anderson, whose family were neighbouring landowners. A large homestead was built at Avenel, where the family lived with servants, including Chinese cooks. The family also spent several months each year in England. Daniel's wealth increased further when he inherited much of his uncle Dr John Bowen's fortune following his death in 1855.
A benefactor to his homeland
Although Daniel Lloyd Jones built his fortune thousands of miles from Wales, he never forgot Llandovery and the surrounding communities. He established charitable support for poor people in Llandingad and Cil-y-cwm, providing blankets, tea and coal at Christmas. He also provided a Christmas dinner for inmates of Llandovery Workhouse and, on at least one occasion, sent mutton from his Australian sheep. His generosity extended to education and public life. He supported Llandovery College, established an annual scholarship and bought land for the College. He also purchased Y Neuadd, the former home of Vicar Pritchard, to prevent its demolition and provide accommodation for poor families.
A legacy in Llandovery
Daniel Lloyd Jones eventually returned permanently to Britain, but his connection with Llandovery remained strong. His gifts helped support education, housing, healthcare and community life in the town. From a farm near Llandovery to a vast cattle station in Victoria, his story is one of remarkable distance — but also of a man who continued to invest in the community he had left behind.
A Welsh Life Far From Home
From Llandovery to Australia
Daniel Lloyd Jones’s life took him thousands of miles from his Welsh birthplace, but his story remained connected to Llandovery.
His Australian fortune enabled him to give back to the communities around his childhood home, leaving a legacy that can still be traced through the town today.
A remarkable Welsh connection
His story also offers a fascinating glimpse into the wider connections between rural Wales and the developing world of the nineteenth century.
A Legacy That Crossed the World
Daniel Lloyd Jones died in 1893, but his connection with Llandovery continued through the people and institutions he supported. His story remains a remarkable example of how far a life that began in rural Carmarthenshire could reach.
The Museum
Discover more about Daniel Lloyd Jones and the people, objects and stories that reveal Llandovery's connections with the wider world.
Visit Llandovery Museum!
The Journey
From a Welsh farm to a new life in Australia.
The Estate
60,000 acres, cattle and the demanding work of Avenel.
The Legacy
A fortune used to support people and institutions in Llandovery.
From a farm near Llandovery to a cattle station in Victoria and back again through a legacy that still touched his home town.
Daniel Lloyd Jones’s life
Free Admission
Entry to the museum is free. Everyone is welcome to explore our collections and exhibitions.
Bring the whole family – including your well-behaved dogs!
Find Us
Llandovery Museum & Visitor Gateway
Y Gannwyll,
King’s Road, Llandovery,
Carmarthenshire. SA20 0AW
Opening Hours
Summer 2026
(April 2nd – October 31st)
Tuesday – Saturday
10:00am – 2:00pm
Supported by Museums Federation Cymru to bring Llandovery’s collections and stories online.
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