Survivors of the notorious cult 'The Family' can rest easy a day after their evil leader died, bringing closure from a life of torture and abuse.
Anne Hamilton-Byrne, the once glamorous and charismatic cult founder, died in palliative care on Thursday night aged 98 after a 12-year battle with dementia.
Adam Lancaster, now 48, who grew up in the cult and spent 22 years living on the family's property, remembers his abuser and tormentor as 'auntie'.
Two days after her death, Mr Lancaster told Daily Mail Australia he feels 'numb' after the news.
Adam Lancaster pictured with Anne Hamilton-Byrne and her husband Bill while he was living at 'The Family's property in central Victoria
Anne Hamilton-Byrne (pictured with cat Tiffany) was the glamorous, charismatic and delusional leader of notorious Australian sect dubbed The Family. She has died aged 98
'(It's) something that I've been wishing in many ways that she goes. It's time. It's cruel that she's being staying around for so long,' he said.
'While she was on the planet, we were never going to get any closure.
'I'm excited for what's going to be in our future now. There is a bit of grief. It still hasn't hit me. It's brought a lot of emotions up.'
Mr Lanaster was 'adopted' by Hamilton-Byrne at just a few days old, and grew up in the sect believing another member, Elizabeth Whitaker was his mother.
Mr Lancaster visited his 'Auntie Annie' at her nursing home before her passing while she suffered with severe dementia (pictured)
Hamilton-Byrne spent her final years living in a Melbourne nursing home with dementia
The cult in central Victoria included the illegal adoption and drugging of many children from the early 1970s until 1987, when two children managed to escape and alert police.
It was then Mr Lanaster learned his 'adoption' was a sham.
Identically dressed with bleached blonde hair shaped into the same bob, the children were bashed, starved and injected with LSD by Hamilton-Byrne and other cult leaders in terrifying sect initiation rituals.
Mr Lancaster was offered to be a ward of the state at age 17 but decided to stay with Ms Hamilton-Byrne.
After leaving the cult in his early twenties Mr Lancaster experienced a life of turmoil from the devastating impacts 'The Family' had, living homeless and turning to drugs.
'I ended up getting on the drugs as basically a timeout from the thoughts in my head,' Mr Lancaster said as he battled twenty years using drugs.
He describes the impacts from drugs such as methamphetamines and LSD being forced into his system from Ms Hamilton-Byrne.
Identically dressed, the children were allegedly bashed, starved and injected with LSD by Hamilton-Byrne and other cult leaders
Mr Lancaster said he still uses marijuana but steers clear of other drugs and alcohol.
'I think I had a strong constitution from drugs as a toddler, they were pumping drugs into us,' he said.
Mr Lancaster saw his former tormentor in her nursing home. She couldn't remember who he was.
He said it was unfair she wouldn't remember the pain she inflicted.
'Auntie Anne didn't know who we were. It's very unfair, she got away with it in her own mind,' he said.
In total, 28 children spent time at the Eildon property, 14 of which Hamilton-Byrne and her husband Bill were thought to be biological parents.
Anne Hamilton-Byrne (pictured) convinced herself and up to 500 followers she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
Hamilton-Byrne convinced herself and up to 500 followers she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ.
Under the influence of LSD, she believed an apocalyptic war was imminent and that she had a duty to collect children from birth in preparation for a new world.
She gathered young boys and girls and raised them as her own on a property in Lake Eildon in central Victoria in the 1970s and 1980s.
Some children were obtained through questionable adoptions, others were born to cult members and some were even handed over by compliant sect parents.
Mr Lancaster said the once beautiful Ms Hamilton-Byrne was hit with karma as she spent her final 12 years living with the illness.
'Karma had already started with her. She would never have wanted to be in the state she was in in that nursing home. She's been reaping karma for the last 12 years.'
Mr Lancaster doesn't know if he believes in the after life but says she will pay the price.
'I don't think she will be going to the almighty. There is love but I know she did so much wrong,' he said.
In 1987, authorities dramatically rescued six traumatised children from the sect property after two managed to escape and alert police.
Because of legal complexities, Hamilton-Byrne and her husband were only ever convicted of fraud offences in relation with forged birth certificates.
They avoided jail and were fined $5,000 each.
In 2009, The Family founder Anne Hamilton-Byrne mistreated the children at the property
Mr Lancaster still struggles after living a life of torture and hardship, suffering from mental health issues and living on a disability pension.
He says he feels closer to having a sense of peace after his 'Auntie Annie' died.
Lex De Man, the retired Victorian detective who led investigations into the cult group described Hamilton-Byrne as 'the most evil person I ever came across,' despite
