The antique furniture inside the house is included in the sale. Photo: Ray White Real Estate.
The asking price for one of Australia’s most famous ‘haunted’ houses, at 1 Homestead Lane in Junee, has finally been revealed.
A price of $1.9 million has been set after a five-week expression of interest period launched in early November was unable to find a buyer.
“It’s been priced realistically,” said Jason Barrett, the real estate agent managing the sale.
“We’ve moved into a private treaty phase; it’ll be on the market until a buyer is found.”
The double-storey 1885-built homestead with 18 bedrooms used to be known as ‘Monte Cristo’.
It was bought by Reginald and Olive Ryan in 1963, who moved into the then-derelict house and restored it to its original state, furnishing it with Victorian-era antiques and opening it to the public as a museum.
Reginald hosted popular ghost tours and accommodation packages between the early 1990s and 2014, when he died and his son Lawrence took over the ghost tours.
Following the passing of Olive late last year, the physical property was handed down to daughters Noelene, Debbie, Michelene and Shiralee, while son Lawrence retained the Monte Cristo trademark and the rights to run ghost tours.
The house in Junee is reputed to be haunted. Photo: Ray White real estate.
Region understands that any new buyer who wishes to restore the Monte Cristo name or run ghost tours would need Lawrence’s permission to do so.
“Anything to do with the Monte Cristo, as in the name, the stories and the ghost tours can’t be conducted without me there because I have them completely trademarked,” Lawrence told Region.
“I’ve tried purchasing the homestead from my sisters, but they’ve refused to sell it.”
The Ryan daughters have declined to comment on the sale.
If not revived as a haunted house, there are many other options for the new owner – including as a museum, boutique accommodation or heritage-focused restoration project.
“We are lucky here in Junee, the zoning is RU5 village – that accommodates both residential and commercial uses in the one zoning. Subject to council approval, it’s open to a broad range of uses,” Mr Barrett said.
The sale includes all the furniture, beds, collectables, artwork and carriages that are in the stables; but there also is maintenance work that needs to be done on the property.
It’s not known whether the ghosts still occupy the premises.
The large hilltop manor house was built by local farmer Christopher Crawley and his wife, Elizabeth, in the 1880s.
The homestead in 1963 before it was restored. Photo: Supplied.
Rumours of the house being haunted began when Christopher died suddenly from blood poisoning in 1910.
In recent times, the homestead became one of Australia’s most famous “haunted house” tourist attractions and was featured on TV shows such as Getaway.
In 2012, the residence was the theme of the Australian horror movie Muirhead. Director Tanzeal Rahim told media he saw the ghost of Christopher Crawley while shooting the film at the house.
Junee Mayor Bob Callow said it would be huge for tourism in the area if the property were restored as an attraction.
“A lot of people who came to stay at the homestead would visit other places in Junee, so we all benefited from that,” he said.
“You feel for the family who have had it for so long; let’s hope there’s good news for the family and good news for the town.”
To make an offer on the property or find out more, contact Jason Barrett from Ray White Real Estate Junee.
