In the 1840s, American sailor Adam (Bridges) is falsely convicted of a crime while on shore leave in Liverpool and is transported to an outback Australian penal colony. He's recaptured after escaping with brutal inmate Dyson (Booth) and offered a chance by reform-minded governor Sir Philip (Mills) to marry fellow prisoner Bess (Merrow) and start a new settlement. However, Dyson and his band of marauders comes calling.