The Haunting of Monte Cristo
The Monte Cristo Homstead is said to be one Australia's most haunted homes.
Located in the town of Junee, Monte Cristo Homestead has a long history dating back to 1876.
In 1876 Christopher William Crawley aquired 520 acres of land in what is now know as the town of Junee, NSW. For years he toiled at farming without much success, until in 1883 when the NSW government built the Junee Railway Station. Mr Crawley had built a railway hotel opposite the railway station.
The beginnings of the town comprised of the railway station, the railway hotel, a local store and a few scattered houses and huts. With the railway routed through the villiage the influx of travellers and farming trade boosted the towns growth, and consequently also increase Mr Crawleys wealth and property holdings.
Mr Crawley, with his increased wealth and high social status constructed the Monte Cristo homestead as a symbol of his importance. Up until then the Crawley's lived in a small brick cottage which later became a kitchen and servants quarters. Built of sandstock bricks, which were fired on-site, the homestead was a vast financial undertaking, however the craftsmanship exhibited is so high that not a single crack has appeared in the structure in over a century. Shortly after construction had finished the homestead was considered to be a social hub, the location of fancy balls, tennis, golf and other leisurely activities.
The Crawley's raised seven children in the house, which they sent away to the finest schools they could afford. The girsl were sent to the Dominican Convent in Maitland, and St Vincent's in Potts Point where they were taught art and music. The boys were sent to Riverview and St Joseph's in Sydney and St Patrick's in Goulburn.
Mr Crawley died in the homestead on 14th December 1910 from heart failure at the age of 69. Mrs Crawley resided in the house until her death on 12th August 1933, during which time she is rumoured to only have left the house twice since her husbands death, she spent her time immersed in the bible and had a storage room converted into a Chapel.
The Monte Cristo Homestead stayed in the Crawley family until 1948, after which all the remaining familey moved out. The home was left empty for over a decade until it was acquired by Reg and Olive Ryan who restored it to its former glory. It now operates a a museum and tourist attraction.
Claimed to be one of Australia's most haunted homes, there have been reports of ghostly figures, strange lights, invisible forcefields and phantom sounds. There have been several tragic accidents in the properties past including murder of a caretaker, the imprisonment of a mentally impaired man, the accidental death of a young child who was dropped down the stairs, a maid havign fallen from the balcony, and a stable boy burnt to death.
