Monte Cristo Haunted House, Junee
Shhhh. Did you hear something? And who turned that light on? Did you feel a shiver? Just some of the questions I asked while I was at
Monte Cristo in Junee. This colonial homestead has the dubious title of being Australia's Most Haunted House and if you're down for a bit of ghost hunting adventure, it's the place to be.
The opulent late Victorian home was built in 1884 in the outback railway town and back then, it was a grand residence for the Crawley family who lived there until the late 1940s. Today, it's said to be home to ten (yes TEN!) active ghosts. The former residents and workers of Monte Cristo had a bad run of luck over the years. With babies dropped down staircases, stable hands burned to death, mums dying in childbirth and even a shooting murder happening at the house, there's some dramatic and tragic history underlying today's ghostly presence.
Monte Cristo Haunted House, Junee
If you believe the stories, each of Monte Cristo's ghosts has their own unique habit - some are said to appear at windows, some turn lights on and off while you may hear the footsteps of others if you listen closely. One ghost even strokes your face if you sleep in the bed where she died. And if getting a facial from a ghost sounds appealing rather than absolutely terrifying, you really can book an
overnight stay which includes a guided ghost tour and meals. This experience is often booked a couple of months in advance so plan ahead if you'd like to try that hauntingly good ghost-facial.
And if you don't believe in otherworldly apparitions and live life firmly on the sceptic side of the fence, the homestead houses a large collection of antique furniture and still has a fascinating history to keep you interested too. The styling shows the home in the style of the day and adds depth to the experience whether or not you believe a visit includes ghoulish encounters.
Monte Cristo Haunted House, Junee
A trip to Monte Cristo is a truly wacky way to spend an hour or two but you should remember this isn't a slick tourist operation. It's a family run business and it's a labour of love. When you visit, take an open mind, a sense of fun and liberal dose of imagination to make the most of a really strange and quirky bit of local history. And if you do see a ghost while you're there, I hope it's a friendly one!
Monte Cristo Haunted House complete with its own fleet of hearses
