Sarah leads a hard and lonely life in the orphanage, in Ireland. Until one day, she is given some news. She is old enough to set sail to the Australian colony of New South Wales for a new job and a new life, as a free immigrant. The long sea journey to Australia is a different experience for Sarah. She happily learns how to sew and read for the first time, but there’s also seasickness, storms and quarrels with Maggie. Will Sarah be able to make a successful life for herself in her new home of Sydney?