Former headquarters of notorious cult up for sale in Melbourne, boasting ‘endless possibilities’
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At an asking price of up to $1.65 million, the listing for the property in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges boasts about three hectares of land, exotic European trees and “so many possibilities” – but there’s an unspoken catch.
At one time, the property in Ferny Creek was the headquarters of notorious cult The Family, complete with a throne for its chief tormentor, kidnapper and abuser, Anne Hamilton-Byrne.
The listing for 31-35 Belgrave-Ferny Creek Road includes two lots: one vacant and covering about half a hectare, and the second, lot 35, home to a large hall. It was previously The Family’s headquarters, known as the “Santiniketan Lodge”.
It is the first time the property has been listed for sale since the cult acquired it in the 1960s. Hamilton-Byrne bequeathed the property to a Tibetan cultural centre.
“Currently owned by the Tibetan Cultural Society, we have a large community hall circa 1970s offering so many possibilities,” Fletchers’ real estate property listing reads.
“The structure is big enough to hold around 100 people in the great hall while also comprising two separate rooms and two bathrooms. It has suffered damage to some windows, but structurally is fine.”
The listing describes a gated entrance and tree-lined driveway that leads to a pasture “studded with exotic European trees”. Lot 35’s price guide is listed as between $1.5 million and $1.65 million.
“Birches, beeches and elms. It’s flat, it’s sunny, it’s got the right mix of colour and the large car park is a bonus. Power and water available,” the listing reads. “The community hall building would be ideal as a communal space for an organisation that needs a place to gather or visit for a retreat.”
Content retrieved from: https://www.theage.com.au/property/news/leafy-headquarters-of-the-family-cult-up-for-sale-in-melbourne-boasting-endless-possibilities-20250519-p5m0cu.html.
