Inside Anglican Catholic Mission Community’s compound near Atherton, in Far North Queensland

These are the never-before-seen photos from inside the sprawling Far North Queensland commune that fundamentalist followers of a secret Christian cult call home.

It’s a long drive down a dusty, potholed track to find a community that doesn’t want to be found. To an outsider, the remote commune 100km southwest of Cairns with its market gardens, basketball court, swimming pool, and playground, seems idyllic.

But this isolated property outside Herberton is home to fundamentalist followers of a Christian cult – the Anglican Catholic Mission Community – formerly the Jesus People of North Queensland.

The sprawling ACMC compound, called “Bethel”, straddles two sides of Walsh River Rd at Watsonville, roughly 15km west of Herberton.

Inside “Bethel”, the Anglican Catholic Mission Community’s sprawling compound in Far North Queensland.

On the left side of the road heading south towards the tiny village of Watsonville sits a 16ha property scattered with a collection of buildings along with old motorhomes and caravans, and facilities including a basketball court, swimming pool, playground, orchard and large market garden.

Opposite is a 32ha block with buildings including a mechanical workshop with a sign saying Village Maintenance – one of many businesses owned by the ACMC.

Earthmoving machinery and heavy vehicles dot the property, including a truck piled with wheelie bins.

Former ACMC members have told The Courier-Mail of having to “dumpster dive” for discarded food which was taken back to the commune for sorting.

Property records list 16ha holding as being owned by Asaph Rau-El Bar-Roka, who in 2018 overthrew Nathanael Landy-Ariel – son of ACMC founder Daniel Landy-Ariel – to become the ACMC’s new ‘reshan’, or leader.

According to court documents filed in 2020 as part of a bitter battle for control of the ACMC’s multimillion-dollar Queensland property portfolio, Bethel was home to about 25 community members living in 16 residential buildings which they built themselves.

The documents stated the property was used to produce food and perform mechanical services for members and to “generate income for the ACMC”.

In 2020, “Bethel” was home to about 25 community members living in 16 residential buildings which they built themselves. Picture: Brian Cassey

The Courier-Mail visited the commune recently as part of its investigation into the ACMC and other secretive religious groups, attempting to talk to members about how they live.

An open gate led to a dirt driveway, at the end of which sat a large number of old motorhomes and vans shimmering in the stifling heat.

We called out a number of times, but there was no reply, as we made our way to the front door of the main house to attempt to speak members of the community.

The property is scattered with a collection of buildings along with old motorhomes and caravans. Picture: Brian Cassey

Most of the land was parched dry but the lawn and gardens around the main buildings were lush and green, with fruit trees and a large fenced and mesh-covered vegetable garden.

“We honour both the garden and the gardener,” proclaimed a handpainted sign on the chicken wire fence.

Another colourful sign said the vege patch was “lovingly cared for” by a group of people with biblical names such as Nathanael, Hannah and Hezekiah, whose monikers were daubed crudely on the timber.

Anglican Catholic Mission Community members inside the Far North Queensland compound. Picture: Brian Cassey

There was also a prominent sign with a passage from the Bible: “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in threat (Matthew 7:23).”

The Stations of the Cross, images depicting Jesus Christ on the day of his crucifixion, are dotted around the property, which appeared deserted.

No-one answered the door of what appeared to be the main house – a ramshackle two-storey concrete block and weatherboard dwelling – while a curtain-entranced community hall was also silent.

The property appeared deserted. Picture: Brian Cassey

Containers filled with upright toothbrushes sat on a water tank behind the house.

Soon after The Courier-Mail arrived, a woman wearing a headscarf and with a young child pulled up in an old station wagon and directed us across the road to see a man named Justin.

A couple of men in the mechanical workshop pointed out Justin – a bushy red-bearded man who looked to be in his 30s – who had emerged from the direction of a low-set brick house wearing sweat-soaked work gear.

The remote commune 100km southwest of Cairns. Picture: Brian Cassey

He seemed polite but suspicious.

“Most people out here live sort of different, alternative lifestyles,” he said.

“That’s the Walsh River for you. We’re primarily Christian-based.”

Court documents list an automotive spray-painter named Justin Bar-Roka as being a member of the ACMC, but the man The Courier-Mail spoke with at the Walsh River Rd property said he was “just a helper” and “really the wrong person to talk to”.

“A lot of the information’s not mine to convey,” he said.

He provided the phone number for a man named “Arthur” – who later declined to say if he was Asaph Bar-Roka.

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