Lawrence Ryan ran ghost tours at the Monte Cristo from 2014 to 2024. Photo: Monte Cristo Facebook.
A complicated family situation could prevent any more ghost tours from ever happening again at a famous Junee ‘haunted’ house that is currently advertised for sale.
A double-storey 1885-built homestead with 18 bedrooms formerly known as ‘Monte Cristo’ was bought by Reginald and Olive Ryan in 1963. Believing the house was haunted, Reginald launched ghost tours from it in the early 1990s.
After Reginald’s death in 2014, his son Lawrence took over the tours, telling the bloody tales of the original Crawley family inhabitants and the staff who lived in the building.
However, following the passing of Olive late last year, the property itself, 1 Homestead Lane, Junee and the copyright of the Monte Cristo and the ghost tours attached to it were split between Reginald and Olive’s children.
The physical property was handed down to daughters Noelene, Debbie, Michelene and Shiralee, while son Lawrence retains the Monte Cristo trademark and the rights to run ghost tours.
The homestead was put up for sale earlier this month, but unless sold to Lawrence or he forms an agreement with the new owner, the name Monte Cristo and any chance of ghost tours returning to the building could be lost.
“Anything to do with the Monte Cristo, as in the name, the written, 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.
“Ideally, if someone were to buy and restore it, the hope is that they just keep it as the heritage building it is.
“All I’m trying to do by holding onto the copyright is to preserve it for my family.
“Our family was there for over 54 years. So it’s not a haunted house, it’s a home. It’s where I grew up. I know everything about the place. I’m the one who’s been running the ghost tours for over the last 15 years, there in the house.”
The Monte Cristo in Junee is reputed to be haunted. Photo: Ray White real estate.
Mr Ryan said he had no idea what his sisters’ intentions were for the building or what kind of buyer they were looking for, but he remained adamant the name and the stories of the Monte Cristo would be kept within the Ryan family.
“My ghost tours used to tell my parents’ life story at the house, as well as that of the Crawley family, the family before us,” he said.
“I don’t want to see someone go in there that they can do it up and then suddenly not have any money to restore the house and be left with a thing that they can’t get rid of, because it’s just another house that no one’s going to love and look after.”
Region contacted Olive Ryan’s daughter Noelene to ask about her plans or hopes for 1 Homestead Lane, but did not receive a response.
Ray White’s Jason Barrett, the agent managing the sale of the homestead, said the owners of the property were still gauging what kind of interest there was in the property, stating there was no specific type of buyer they were looking for.
“They certainly appreciate the legacy that their parents have created and would love to see that continue, that’s certainly not lost on them,” Mr Barrett said.
“But, it is also their childhood home, and unfortunately, no one in the family has got the ability to continue that on.
“At this point in time, they’re just happy to see what interest is out there. There isn’t anything specific that they are factoring in to their decision.”
He said he was unsure if the ghosts would leave the house when the new owner moved in, but said they didn’t pay rent.
The large hilltop manor house was built by local farmer Christopher Crawley and his wife Elizabeth in the 1880s.
Rumours of the house being haunted began when Christopher died suddenly from blood poisoning in 1910.
Despite the family feud, many current and former Junee residents have expressed their fond memories of the building’s legacy and would love to see it returned or heritage listed.
“I think it would be insane to have it be changed into anything other than the Monte Cristo,” former Junee resident Emily Smit said.
“It’s such an old house, it should be heritage listed, and it should be preserved.
“It was a massive attraction when it was operating. I know people from Canberra who would visit Junee just to go do one of the tours.
“The idea of that never happening again is really disappointing.”
