A New Zealand-born man who moved to Australia in the 1970s and started a sect, telling his eventual 9 wives and 60-plus children that he was Jesus Christ, was put behind bars for 7 years in Victoria in 2000. In spite of the fairly sensational nature of his lifestyle and crimes, his name is not well-known here, and his polygamous group gained the most media attention when a recent Bachelor Australia contestant was outed by the press for her childhood involvement.

This episode we’re talking about a cult that didn’t officially have a name, but was unofficially referred to as The Seaside Sect.

Full research sources listed here. You can support us on Patreon or Acast+, with a one-off donation, or grab some merch. Sarah Steel's debut book Do As I Say is available on audiobook now.

If you have been personally affected by involvement in a cult, or would like to support those who have been, contact Cult Information and Family Support in Australia, or the International Cultic Studies Association outside of Australia.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or needs support right now, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 in Australia, or find your local crisis centre via the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

Links:

• Abuser kept secret through cult of fear — by Naomi Larkin, NZ Herald, 12 August 2000
• Meet Sam and James, the Unsuspecting Villains of Netflix's 'Instant Hotel' — by Pippa Raga, Distractify, 11 January 2019
• Cult head, 71, molested girls, trial told — AAP, The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 July 2000
• 'Harem' deserts convicted guru — AAP, The Age, 4 August 2000
• 'Guru' jailed for child molestation — News24, 11 August 2000
• Polygamist guru faces new child sex charges — by Katie Lapthorne, The Courier Mail, 8 March 2003
• Ian Francis LOWE Death Notice — New Zealand Herald, 14 April 2012
• The Bachelor Cult Bombshell — Alison Petrovsky, A Current Affair, 8 August 2016

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