By Fiona Jacobs

The cafe is a two-story home, made of cut sandstone and cedar timber and covered in Boston ivy, formally known as Parthenocissus tricuspidate.

A vigorous, deciduous climber, the ivy that covers the structure was originally planted in the 1940s, and now the building has become a charming bed and breakfast in one of Mittagong’s most sacred, sweet spots.

What is even more interesting is the 145 years of history that still lingers in the halls of the building. How did it all begin? Is the history still intact? and what significance remains?

George Brown, a carpenter from New Sheffield, purchased the land from the Fitzroy Iron Works in 1867. In 1872 he sold it to a storekeeper named John Joseph Ruane, an Irishman who lived with his wife Ester Anne Ryan and their 10 children.

After mortgaging his property twice and transferring ownership of the property to his wife, Ruane built the current stone building on the southern boundary of lot 225 in 1880 due to a fire that started in his original home in his kitchen. He also built a cottage on the rear of the lot to prevent any remodelling or financial debt.

However, in 1887 John met financial troubles from the English, Scottish and Australian bank that followed him and his family to 1906 when the bank took over and sold the property. John and Ester were stripped of all investments in the home and lived the rest of their days in Paddington, Sydney.

The current lease holder and boss of the cafe, Ulysees Svoronos, said John was against the federation of Australia and left his protest in the form of an anti-federation plaque, carved in stone above the entrance to the flat.

The ES&A bank sold the property to George James Chant of Jellor in October 1906. Chant was a farmer who envisioned the retirement dream with his wife and 12 children in their new timber home. But sadly he met a different fate when he was tragically killed by a falling tree on his property in June 1908, before he ever set foot in his new dream home.

Ownership then passed to George’s son James, and the house became Chant House. Unfortunately, history repeated itself and James died a year after moving into the house due to a serious head injury from another fallen tree in 1909.

James’s widow, Eliza, was left to raise five young children. One of her daughters, Florence, returned to the beloved home with her two kids after tragedy struck her husband Roy Bernard Hayden, who died of fatal injuries from an incident at his construction site in 1936.

Florence supported the remaining family by taking ownership and converting the downstairs into a dressmaker, but over time couldn’t sustain the mortgage and after 60 years the Chant family passed out of the house’s story in 1962.

It is fascinating and almost strange how many incidental tragedies occurred to the Chants before ever truly settling down in the home. Was it a coincidence or was it something keeping them from the ivy house?

The current owner, Svoronos, hasn’t experienced anything too phenomenal; however, he has spoken to numerous physics and empaths who have felt, seen and encountered spirits roaming Boston Ivy and spoke on the most dominant spirits including:

• Henry, a wealthy, gruff, well-dressed man that had a stroke in the building. He is known to be unkind, particularly to women
• Charles, a Christian, traditional, respected man. He likes to move things around, having a spot near the fireplace, doesn’t like change or broken routine in his space and women taking charge of the home
• Ozzie, an older businessman. Allegedly you feel cold air when he’s nearby
• Lady Alice, prim and proper. A kind widow or spinster who likes keeping things tidy. You might smell stew or broth cooking in her presence
• Lastly, a fat gray cat who likes to sleep in the sun on the windowsill in the bathroom.

Curiosity grows regarding the lore of these spirits and how they met their end in this bewildering building.

From the 1880s it became the Boston Ivy by Barbara de Vilder, an antique and gift shop, and then a candy shop. The long period of rebuilding, re-establishing and converting finally ended when the building was earmarked as historically significant under the council’s control plan in 1997.

After all this time, it still stands as a lovely cafe, and the historical significance of Boston Ivy shines brightly. With every visit and for whoever sets foot within these walls, there’s a unique experience waiting to be told.

Featured image: The Boston Ivy 1880 cafe in Mittagong then and now. Photos: Supplied