THE RYAN'S

Reg and Olive Ryan are the owners of Monte Cristo to this day.

The Ryan's of MONTE CRISTO

The Ryan family have lived in the Junee and Wagga Wagga district for generations, Reginald Ryan, patriarch of the family, was born at 24 Best Street, Wagga Wagga, on the 18th January 1934, the youngest of three sons born to Stanley & Florence Ryan.

Although Monte Cristo Homestead was built in the 19th century by the Crawley family its existence today is testament to the dedication and industry of the Ryan family, without whom it would have been lost to the wreckers ball decades ago.

A tailor by trade when he acquired Monte Cristo Homestead in 1963 Reginald Ryan worked day and night to pay off the bank loans, restore the vandalized property and keep his family along the way. Working as a drinks waiter, laborer and door to door salesman in his "spare time" before establishing himself as an antiques dealer and securing the Homesteads future in the process.

Monte Cristo Antiques soon became internationally renowned, the house itself was used as a showroom for many years and helped the Ryan's acquire many of the art and antique pieces the Homestead has become internationally renowned for today. Ceasing their trade in antiques in 1986 the Ryan's opened Monte Cristo as a local area museum, with members of the family acting as tour guides.

Besides being an antique store and award wining tourist attraction it has always been very much a family home, the heart of the Ryan family, presided over by Reginald and Olive Ryan, whose five children: Deborah (b.28.8.58) - Noelene (b.24.12.59) - Michalene (b.21.7.62) - Shiralee (b.19.11.63) and Lawrence (b.28.3.71) devotedly assisted them in the restoration of the sprawling estate and although now living all over Australia retain a profound interest in the Homestead and return for special events and to spend Christmas together with their children: Clinton, Michael, Rebecca, Mitchell, Matilda, Ryan, Jennifer, Lewis and James.

Monte Cristo Homestead remains popular with journalists and documentary makers, the Ryan children often called upon to detail the Homesteads unique history and what life was like growing-up in what was for many years of their early life a building site. A house and family history which continues to fascinate people, one which began on a Saturday morning in 1955 when Reginald Ryan spotted an mysterious house perched high on a hill and decided to investigate.