Australia’s Answer To ‘The Conjuring’ House Has Hit The Market

Just a week after Halloween, the curtains on one of Australia’s most chilling real-estate listings have risen: the infamous Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, NSW, is officially up for sale. But this isn’t just any heritage home with ornate gables and cottage-core vibes. It’s a manor drenched in history, tragedy and ghost stories, and the kind of place that makes you double-check if that creak was just the floorboards… or something else.

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​Image Credit: Ray White

Built circa 1885 by pioneer farmer Christopher William Crawley, the grand late-Victorian double-storey manor sits above Junee with sweeping views over the countryside. The property includes the main house, outbuildings and acreage—creating potential for private estate, tourism venture, event hire or film location. (And yes: the furniture, antique art and oddities are part of the story).

The Dark History Of The Monte Cristo Homestead

This is where things get juicy. Monte Cristo is considered by many to be Australia’s most haunted house—and not for lack of reason. Here are some of the standout tales. 

Crawley built the property in 1885. The family lived in it until 1948. After Christopher died in 1910 (from blood poisoning following a neck boil), his wife Elizabeth became a virtual recluse, rarely leaving the house for decades. 

A maid is alleged to have fallen (or been pushed) from the upstairs balcony, while possibly pregnant and linked to Crawley. The stain from the blood-removal is still pointed out during tours. 

​Image Credit: Ray White

A stable-boy named Morris is claimed to have died after his straw mattress was set alight by his master. His ghost is heard languishing in the coach house area. 

A young intellectually-disabled man named Harold was reportedly chained in the dairy/coach cottage for decades, screaming and howling for mercy. He later died in an institution. His chains allegedly still rattle. 

A caretaker was murdered on the front porch in 1961 by a young local obsessed with Psycho; the words “Die Jack, ha ha” were carved into a shed door and remain. 

Visitors report flickering lights, sudden cold spots, disembodied voices, children crying, and an overwhelming sense of dread.

​Image Credit: Ray White

The Eternal Tenants 

Elizabeth Crawley (AKA The Lady in Grey) is frequently cited as the main spirit haunting the property, described as icy, watchful, and sensitive to visitors’ manners.

Christopher Crawley is occasionally seen; slower, less menacing, more “presence”. The maids, the children, and the caretaker all form part of the complex ghost-ecosystem of the property.

In 1963, the property was purchased by the Ryan family (Reg and  Olive Ryan) who restored it and opened it as a museum/tourist attraction. The Ryan’s reported bizarre deaths of animals and pets on the property (chickens strangled, parrot choked, kittens found dead).

The Homestead hosted ghost tours, overnight stays and attracted paranormal investigators for decades. As of early 2025, tours are closed indefinitely and the estate is now listed for private sale. 

Image Credit: Ray White

What do you actually get, aside from notorious legends and possibly a bunch of ghouls? Well, for starters the 2.47 hectare property is home to 18 bedrooms, five bathrooms, space for 10 cars (or carriages), a grand ballroom, several outbuildings, an indoor pool that is already the stuff of nightmares, and the entire contents of antique furniture, artwork and accoutrements collected over a lifetime (and possible the afterlife).

You can check out the full listing and express your interest at the Ray White website here.

​Main Image Credit: Ray White