At His Graduation From Edinburgh University In 1885, The Promising Young Medical Student, William Cameron, Coughs Blood Into His Handkerchief. He Is Told His Only Chance To Recover From Tuberculosis Is To Leave His Beloved Scotland For The Hot, Dry Climate Of Melbourne, William Meets Jeannie Robertson, An Equally Reluctant Scottish Immigrant Who Came To Australia With Her Fiercely Opinionated, Widowed Mother, In Pursuit Of Her Two, Gold-prospecting Brothers.this True Story Follows William And Jeannie On Their Respective Journeys From Scotland To A New Life In Australia. Even As They Find Each Other In The 'marvellous Melbourne' Of The 1890's, Tuberculosis Claims William Again, And He And Jeannie Are Forced To Relocate To The Hottest And Driest Outpost Of The Colony-mildura.their 'grand Investment' In The Fledgling Mildura Irrigation Scheme Turns Into A Long Struggle Against Drought, Rabbits And Financial Ruin That Engulfs The Entire Settlement.