It's 1854, and the Ballarat goldfields are a place of dreams and rebellion as Sam, a homeless teenager, is called back to the past to join the Puddlehams, who run the best little cook shop on the diggings. The Puddlehams dream of buying a hotel with velvet seats, while others dream of freedom from the British crown, away from the rule of wealthy landowners and corrupt officials. Once again Jackie French takes a fresh look at the history we thought we knew and recreates an event entrenched in our national heritage.