The days of exploration were over. Now cries of "unlock the land!" echoed from the outback to the cosmopolitan streets of Sydney. A young generation--farmers, bushrangers, dancehall girls, shippers, soldiers and "mates"--Would be the first to call this down-under land their native soil. Their dream was one nation under God united. Their champions were the nationalists like beautiful Java Gordon, daughter of Jessica Broome, whose vibrant passion declared a fierce, proud country hers to fight for. But other voices raised the specter of race hatred and violence. Now the move toward unity could forever divide a people ... or prove the ultimate triumph for those who challenged an entire continent to create one free and mighty land.