Anne Hamilton-Byrne

The late 1960s was the heyday of the drug-taking messianic brainwashing cult, and Australia got its own slice of the action in the shape of Anne Hamilton-Byrne. A former yoga teacher who believed she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, AHB’s “The Family” cult adopted a string of children from orphanages and social services. They then doped them up on LSD, dyed their hair blonde and subjected them to regular beatings. They also made them dress up like Von Trapp children for some reason. This was meant to help AHB (referred to by cult members as “Auntie Anne”) take over the world, but those plans were put on ice in the 1980s when police busted the movement and freed all captive children. Hamilton-Byrne was only ever charged with tax fraud and served no time in prison.

Anne Hamilton-Byrne
30 December, 1921 – 13 June, 2019
Died aged 97 (Four picks)