All Episodes

February 6, 2023 97 mins

TRIGGER WARNING: This case covers some dark topics including child abuse and mention of suicide. If these subjects are triggering to you, please skip from 39:27 to 49:18. 

Have you heard of the Australian Family Cult? We hadn't either...

In this episode, Alana brings us the Cult run by the notorious Anne Hamilton-Byrne, in all of her evil. This Case goes from shocking to downright despicable as we discuss the many lives and many many crimes of Anne, many of which went undocumented, and unprosecuted. This is a real rollercoaster guys so buckle up, Alana has a story to tell.

Sources Cited:

  • Big Stories Co. “About.” About – The Cult of The Family, https://cultofthefamily.com/about/

  • Cappello, Nile. “On Cults, and the Weight of Family.” CrimeReads, 18 Feb. 2020, https://crimereads.com/on-cults-and-the-weight-of-family/

  • Cusack, Carole. “The Family (Australia).” English, https://wrldrels.org/2018/01/03/the-family/

  • Elias, David. “Missing Girl.” Newspapers.com, 8 Sept. 1983, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104855488/missing-girl/

  • Haworth, Abigail. “Growing up with the Family: Inside Anne Hamilton-Byrne's Sinister Cult.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 20 Nov. 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/20/growing-up-with-the-family-inside-anne-hamilton-byrnes-sinister-cult

  • Johnston, Chris, and Rosie Jones. The Family: The Shocking True Story of a Notorious Cult. Scribe Publications, 2017. ISBN10: 1925228681 

  • Johnston, Chris. “Family Ties.” Sydney Morning Herald, https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2017/family-ties/#:~:text=Before%20she%20was%20the,town%20with%20one%20main%20street

  • Moore, Sarah. “Why I See Anne - by Dr Sarah Moore/Hamilton-Byrne.” Why i See Anne - by Dr Sarah Moore/Hamilton-Byrne, 15 Aug. 2009, http://drsarahmoore.blogspot.com/2009/08/why-i-see-anne-by-dr-sarah.html

  • Various. “New Age.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Jan. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age

  • Various. “Sarah Moore (the Family).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 6 May 2022, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Moore_(The_Family)

  • Various. “The Family (Australian New Age Group).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 17 Jan. 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_(Australian_New_Age_group)


Connect with us!

Spookery is available where ever you get your podcasts!

Instagram is @SpookeryPodcast
Twitter is @SpookeryPodcast

Send us a Gmail at SpookeryPodcast@gmail.com for your own spooky stories, corrections, and additions to any of our content!

Art was created by the amazing Rhian Perry at https://www.instagram.com/digipaw1/?utm_source=qr&igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg%3D%3D 

All music is from the Epidemic Sound Library.

Until next time, Stay Spooky! 


Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience

The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.