When Maggie arrives at Five Mile Creek, her husband is nowhere to be found. While she waits for news of his whereabouts, she joins the Five Mile Creek family who are busy establishing a coach line and way station to serve coach passengers.

Ben Jones arrives from the USA with team of horses for The Australian Express; Kate offers to raise a juvenile bush ranger, and "Backer" Bowman visits Five Mile Creek, trying to discourage The Australian Express out of business.

A mysterious traveler arrives at Five Mile Creek and immediately falls in love with Kate, who also shares the same feelings for him. But he holds a shocking secret that can lead to trouble for The Australian Express.

The Australian Express faces competition from a rival coach line that offers faster and cheaper service; Jack receives a letter from his estranged wife who wants to see him again; Con meets an old friend who has a hidden agenda.

Con and Paddy go on a dangerous mission to capture wild bulls for a lucrative contract; Kate tries to teach Hannah how to read and write; Ben gets into trouble with a local landowner who claims the bulls are his property.

A traveling salesman arrives at Five Mile Creek with a new invention: a phonograph that can play recorded music. He charms everyone with his smooth talk and his device, but he also has a scheme to swindle them out of their money.

A gold rush and fever hit the area. But the gold fever also brings greed, violence and lawlessness. Jack and Con try to protect the coach line; Kate and Maggie face hostility; Ben and Paddy find themselves in a deadly situation.

A young girl named Annie runs away from her abusive uncle and seeks refuge at Five Mile Creek. She bonds with Hannah and Ben. Meanwhile, Jack and Con deal with a group of escaped convicts who are hiding in the bush.

Jack decides to leave Five Mile Creek and return to England with his wife. He entrusts the coach line to Con. Kate feels torn between her loyalty to Jack and her feelings for Con. Maggie's husband wants her back in America.

Con falls ill with a fever and has vivid dreams of his past in Ireland. He remembers how he joined the Fenian movement and fought against the British. He also recalls how he met Kate, who was his first love before he left for Australia.

A prestigious horse race is held in town and Ben enters his horse Starlight in the competition. He hopes to win the prize money to impress Maggie. But he faces stiff opposition from a rival horse owner who will stop at nothing to win.

A con artist arrives at Five Mile Creek and claims to be Jack's old friend. He offers to help the coach line with his skills and his connections. But he also has a hidden agenda: he plans to cheat them out of their money and property.

The American settlers celebrate Thanksgiving. They invite their Australian friends to join them. But the festivities are interrupted by an unexpected visitor: Maggie's husband Adam Scott, who has come to take her back with him.