After struggling to make their way across a land ravaged by drought and the Depression, an encounter with a fellow traveller directs the Fletcher family towards Coorumbong Creek where they hope to join in the search for gold.
Alec's journey in search of help brings him to a small town where the locals organise a team of horses to free the truck from the broken bridge and tow the family into town. The family finds some stability in the town, working and living at the hotel while John makes plans to begin prospecting. A search is launched for Mr Ekman after he is accused of stealing mother's purse.
While searching for Mr Ekman, Alec encounters Bluey and goes for a ride in his plane. Mr. Bunbury offers mother a job cooking at the hotel but father thinks he's taking advantage of them for cheap labour.
John gets his first taste of prospecting, joining the other men in working the mine.
Christmas comes to Coorumbong Creek but the celebrations are interrupted when Robbie goes missing after a violent altercation with his stepfather.
Alec finds Robbie hiding in the bush but he's reluctant to come home, believing he killed his stepfather.
Word spreads of Robbie's discovery of gold in the creek despite his stepfather's hope to keep it a secret.
Clarie returns to camp with the results from Barney's rock samples but there is concern about the two strangers he brings back with him.
Jack and Wally, the two strangers, go into the mine to rescue John and the returning miners take him to hospital.
With a little help from Barney, Alec takes over working his father's mine to keep it out of Claire's hands.