The gates of Monte Cristo Homestead –the infamous Victorian mansion dubbed Australia’s most haunted house – are set to change hands for the first time in over six decades, with the historic Junee property officially listed for sale this month.
Perched atop a windswept hill on 6.1acres at 1 Homestead Lane, the 140-year-old, 18-bedroom estate has captivated ghost hunters, historians, and thrill-seekers since the Ryan family transformed it into a paranormal tourism hotspot in the 1960s.
Now, following the passing of beloved matriarch Olive Ryan in November 2024, the family have made the emotional decision to sell.
A Walk-In, Walk-Out Legacy
The property is being offered on a rare “walk-in, walk-out” basis – meaning the buyer will inherit not just the grand two-storey mansion, but every antique chair, oil painting, dusty ledger, and eerie artefact left exactly as they were during the final ghost tour.
• 18 bedrooms across sprawling upper and lower levels
• 5 bathrooms, including original claw-foot tubs
• Formal sitting rooms with 12-foot ceilings and marble fireplaces
The homestead was built in 1885 by wealthy landowner Christopher Crawley and remained in his family until 1948. The Ryans purchased it for just £1,000 in 1963 –the equivalent of around $25,000 today– and spent decades restoring its faded glory while leaning into its chilling reputation.
End of an Era for Paranormal Tourism
For years, Monte Cristo drew thousands of visitors annually for candlelit ghost tours, overnight lock-ins, and Most Haunted-style investigations. The site closed permanently to the public in early 2025, leaving a void in regional tourism.
Louise Heckenberg
How to Buy Australia’s Most Haunted Address
The sale is being man-aged by Ray White Junee via expressions of interest, with no public guide price released. Industry sources suggest interest from interstate buyers, heritage investors, and even international paranormal enthusiasts.
Will Monte Cristo find a new keeper brave enough to live among its shadows? One thing is certain: whoever signs the contract won’t just be buying a house – they’ll be inheriting a legend.
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