Mary Costello (pastoralist)
Mary Costello | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Scanlan Template:Birth date County Clare, Ireland |
| Died | December 18, 1924 (aged 85) |
| Occupation | Pastoralist |
| Known for | Trailblazing pastoralist in Australia's Northern Territory; early female voter in Australia |
Mary Costello (born Scanlan) (6 January 1839 – 18 December 1924) was a trailblazing figure in pastoralism within Australia's Northern Territory.
Early life
Originating from County Clare, Ireland, as the daughter of Patrick Scanlan, Mary emigrated to Australia in 1861. She wed John Costello on 7 January 1865 at Grabben Gullen, New South Wales. The couple initially had two sons before relocating to Kyabra Creek in western Queensland, where they expanded their family with a daughter and four additional children.
Life in the Northern Territory
The Costellos took ownership of Lake Nash Station in 1882. Following a year-long stay in Ireland, Mary enrolled her daughters in a convent located in Townsville. Their pastoral interests grew with the acquisition of Valley of the Springs in 1887. By approximately 1891, they resettled at Lake Nash accompanied by their seven children. Their relationship was recognized for being a "close and equitable partnership."
Mary was intellectually engaged and politically active, maintaining a wide network of correspondence. In 1894, she and her daughters registered to vote in Warnardo, marking them among the earliest women in Australia to participate in elections after suffrage changes in both the Northern Territory and South Australia.
Later life
In 1902, the Costellos moved back to New South Wales and purchased land near Goulburn, though financial difficulties led to foreclosure by creditors for both. Mary Costello passed away in 1924 and was laid to rest in Hillston.