London, 1891: Harriet Cameron and her beloved sister Sarah have been brought up by their father, radical thinker James Cameron. But when adventurer Henry Vincent arrives on the scene, the sisters' lives are changed forever. Sarah, the beauty of the family, marries Henry and embarks on a voyage to Australia. Harriet, intensely missing Sarah, must decide whether to help her father with his life's work or to devote herself to painting. When James dies unexpectedly, Harriet follows Sarah to Australia, and afterwards into the outback, where she is alienated by the casual violence and great injustices of life there. Her rejuvenation begins with her friendship with an Aboriginal stockman and her growing love for the landscape. But this fragile happiness is soon threatened by murders at a nearby cattle station and a menacing station hand who is seeking revenge.