The series follows two children—Lily (played by Christine Tremarco) and Bert (Kevin Jones)—who meet at the Star of the Sea Orphanage in Liverpool, England in the early 1950s.
Lily is eventually reunited with her mother and returns to Britain with her but Bert is sent to a young offenders institution.
The screenplay was written by writing partners John Alsop and Sue Smith who were working together on the miniseries Brides of Christ.
Alsop read a review of a book about the child migration scheme, Lost Children of the Empire.
Alsop approached Penny Chapman, head of drama at the ABC, with the idea for the story and she approved the funding.