Whilst Ida longs to settle in a place of their own, Paddy is unwilling to abandon his way of life and continues to pick up work where he can.

They meet various colourful outback characters, ranging from prosperous graziers to drunks, including Rupert Venneker, a well-educated Englishman in self-imposed exile.

Along the way Sean develops from boy into young man, Venneker marries and settles in a small town, and the Carmodys continue on their way.

[5] It was adapted for Australian radio in 1953 (with Rod Taylor playing Paddy),[6] and film rights were purchased by the American producer Joseph Kaufman, then in Australia to make Long John Silver (1954).

Stills from this film were used in a 1961 adaptation for the TV series Telestory, where the novel was read by actor Leonard Teale.