1902...the Australian Federation turns one year old. Twelve-year-old Tom's loving father, Nat, has taken him and his sister, Sarah, to an isolated farmhouse on the edge of the woods. But Nat's dream of living off the land has died and he is losing his grip on sanity. When three ex-soldiers show up at his cabin one night, Tom, like his father, believes they are providence. But his presence becomes more threatening when one of them reveals a secret: he has struck gold. As the lure of gold infects everyone around him, the cabin becomes a psychological battleground where Tom's loyalty is tested.