Summary

The Costello Family owned Windsor Station near Charters Towers. Henry Hurle sold the station in 1914 to Patrick Maurice Costello of Charters Towers. The Costello and Bell Families were contemporaries and socialised together. See the Bell Family Archive (see Related Links). Maud Bell is mentioned in one of Andrew Costello's letters.

This collection consists of thirteen handwritten letters, one telegram and four small photographs. The letters were written by Andrew Costello, who served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War Two. The addresses on the envelopes indicate that family members, when not at Windsor Station, Charters Towers, would stay at Lowth's Hotel in Townsville. One letter written by a fellow-pilot of Andrew's to Andrew's mother, dated 3 July 1941, states, "It grieves me deeply to have to write to you today of the tragic passing of a well loved friend and comrade of ours - your son Andrew."

There are several newspaper articles about Andrew Costello. See below:

"Mr. Andrew Costello, of Windsor Station, in the Charters Towers district, a member of the Townsville Aero Club, secured his A. license at Townsville on Sunday."¹

"Aircraftsman Andrew Costello who has now completed his training and passed his examinations, will be returning to Charters Towers shortly to bid farewell to his parents and friends prior to his departure overseas. Andrew hopes to attend the Amateur races and renew acquaintances with his friends!"²

"Sergeant-Pilot A. G. Costello, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Q. Costello, of Windsor Station, Charters Towers, was the first casualty in Australia's Spitfire squadron in England. He was killed when he crashed in Lincolnshire in a night fight with an enemy plane."³

List of this archive's contents

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Newspaper Clipping, Andrew Costello Letter

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