English agriculture scientist William Farrer, on a health trip to Australia, advises his friends (Ossie Wenban, Queenie Ashton) to invest money in wheat farming.
In a hotel in Queanbeyan, Farrer hears that rust is playing havoc with farmers' crops, and his friends, who were ruined, have both just committed suicide.
However farmers plot to burn his farm and millers will not grind new strains of wheat from Farrer for flour.
He is finally recognised for his achievements, hands over his work to his young assistant (Eric Wright), and soon afterwards he collapses and dies in his office.
[4] Helen Bousfield wrote a radio play about the life of William Farrer, The Golden Legacy.