The Monte Cristo estate and dark family secrets behind closed doors (16 photos)

In Junee, New South Wales, Australia, lies the Monte Cristo Estate, a place where success stories are intertwined with dark secrets and eerie legends. At first glance, it is simply a stately Victorian mansion on a hill, symbolizing the wealth and prosperity of its era.





However, behind its luxurious walls lie stories of suffering, hurt and injustice that are said to still haunt the house. It is no wonder that Monte Cristo is considered the most haunted place in Australia.

History of Monte Cristo Estate



The owner of the house, Christopher William Crowley (1841-1910), began his journey as an ordinary farmer. In the 1860s, he bought two plots of land in the town of Junee to build a family nest. The first years were difficult: the family huddled in an adobe hut, and the income barely covered basic needs.

But fate smiled on Crowley in 1878, when the Great Southern Railway opened. He quickly acquired a license to build the Railway Hotel, which was located opposite the new station. Thanks to this enterprise, Crowley became one of the most influential men in the city.





His success allowed him to build a two-story late Victorian mansion that towered over the surrounding area like a symbol of prosperity. However, behind the facade of wealth and prosperity were dark secrets that would later make the house a legend.

The Tragic Death of Crowley and His Wife



Christopher Crowley died in 1910 from heart failure and blood poisoning caused by a carbuncle on his neck. The tragedy of the situation was that the infection developed due to the friction of a starched collar - a detail that seems almost symbolic for an era of rigid conventions and restrictions.



His wife, Elizabeth Crowley, never recovered from the loss of her husband. She locked herself in the house, spending most of her time in the attic, where she built a small chapel. In the 23 years following Christopher's death, she left the estate only twice. She died in 1933 of a ruptured appendix, ending her life in solitude and seclusion.

The Ghosts of Monte Cristo



Today, the estate is famous for its paranormal phenomena. It is said that at least ten ghosts live here, each with their own story.



The spirit of Christopher Crowley supposedly continues to live in the room where he died. His presence is felt as a soft, soothing warmth.

Elizabeth Crawley, on the contrary, remains a strict mistress even after death. Visitors claim that she "greets" them with a blast of icy air if she doesn't like them.



Particularly creepy stories are associated with the fates of two maids:

One of them, pregnant by Christopher, jumped from the balcony, unable to bear the shame. Her ghost still roams the verandas, and a bloody stain is seen at the place of her death.

The second maid gave birth to a son, Harold, who was later accidentally maimed by a carriage. The child survived, but suffered a head injury that left him disabled for life. The poor boy was kept chained in the carriage house until authorities discovered him and sent him to a mental institution. The creaking of the chains is said to still be heard in the house.



Other stories tell of little Ethel, Crowley's granddaughter, who died after falling down the stairs, and of the groom Morris, who was burned alive in the carriage house.



Crowley's little granddaughter Ethel died in 1917 after her nanny dropped her on the stairs. She claimed she was pushed by an invisible force, but the woman was not believed.



A later ghost was Jack Simpson. He was one of the caretakers of the house, and at some point in 1960, he was shot to death by a young man on the porch right in front of the house. Before committing the crime, the man watched Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho three times. The words "Die Jack Ha Ha" were carved into the barn door, where they can still be seen today.

Mystical Incidents



Guests of the estate often report strange phenomena: lights turning on by themselves, feeling cold hands touching their skin, hearing whispers and footsteps in empty rooms. Some experience sudden nausea or sadness, others lose consciousness. Children are especially sensitive to the energy of the house: they cry and act up on the stairs, where little Ethel is said to have died.

The Estate Today



Today, Monte Cristo is a museum where you can come for a tour or even stay overnight. Particularly popular are the night tours for ghost hunters, during which daredevils try to establish contact with spirits.



Would you dare to spend the night in this creepy, but beautiful historical mansion?