Set in 1851, this book is a tale of love, adventure, endurance and triumph. A young Scottish couple, forbidden to marry, elope to New South Wales. Their heart-wrenching departure, arduous sea voyage and eventual good fortune lead them to the management of a sheep station beside the Murray River. As the extended family experience trials, prosperity, heartbreak and joy in this new colony, including droughts and bushfires, they contribute to the establishment of a new nation, Australia. A breathtaking ride by their grandson in the Melbourne Cup completes the story.