Plot

Jeannie Gunn faced being the only civilised woman in an uncivilised land. A story of personal triumph about one woman who reached out in a hard, hostile, prejudiced world and managed to find love.

The film focuses on the life of Jeannie (Angela Punch McGregor), an educated woman from the upper-middle class of society, and her story of adapting to life in the outback of Australia. Opening in the year 1902, Jeannie gets married to Aeneas Gunn (Arthur Digham) who has just bought a one million acre cattle station in the Northern Territory near the rural town of Mataranka, called Elsey Station. Jeannie moves with him from her home in the city of Melbourne, Victoria to the inhospitable outback. Some of the drovers (indigious Aboriginies) are unhappy at first because they believe that the bush is no place for a white woman. They are wary of her and make fun of her when she and her husband arrive. However, Jeannie is determined to prove them wrong.

While her husband is away with the other men herding the cattle, Jeannie begins making friends with the Aboriginal people. Her husband and the other white men treat the local people (and Chinese workers) as inferior, often regarding them as lazy, indifferent, and unreliable. However, Jeannie is sympathetic, often giving them food, or trying to stop domestic disputes.

Later, Aeneas goes on a cattle muster and asks Jeannie to come along, which she does gladly. However the trip is difficult for her, riding side-saddle, she is also nearly attacked by a rogue bull. However, as time passes, things improve at the station; the house is expanded, a new Chinese cook arrives, a garden is planted, and her belongings finally arrive from Melbourne.

But boredom sets in as she assumes her place... that of the station master's wife. She is asked not to help a feverish dying man, or to interfere with the balance of things, or to give the Aboriginal people goods meant for the working white men. As a result, she spends more time with the locals, since she longs to learn and understand more about their ways. Jeannie even takes a semi-orphaned mixed-heritage child called Bett-Bett (Sibina Willy) under her wing, much to the dismay of her husband.

Over time Jeannie gains the respect of the Aboriginal people and they slowly open up to her. At one point, Goggle Eye (Donald Blither), an older Aboriginal man, allows her to watch an Aboriginal dance. The stock men, however, interrupt the "heathen" dance, shooting and shouting "God save King Edward". Later, Bett-Bett goes on walkabout and Goggle Eye becomes ill and feverish. Believing he has been affected by a singing curse, Goggle Eye passes away. The stock men feel some mixed remorse, acknowledging their role in his death.

At Christmas time, the Aboriginal people are treated a little better after what happened. In the spirit of Christmas, many of the provisions are given away and a large traditional Christmas meal is prepared for the westerners. It is here that Aeneas announces his intention, after their first year, to stay on at the station. Just when Jeannie thinks she is accustomed to life in the harsh outback, Aeneas also becomes feverish and dies, leaving her alone at the station. However, Bett-Bett returns from walkabout and asks to stay with her in the house. She agrees.