Richard Roxburgh

Recently widowed Annie Quaintain sells her home and possessions to pay off her late husband's debts. Looking for work and a place to stay, Annie and her two children set off for Culverdale Valley, where an enormous viaduct is being built.

With Red's death behind them, Annie and Johnny's relationship grows. Isabella decides to leave Blackwell House but still wants to remain in the business. Work starts on the mine, but a sudden collapse has lasting consequences for Jericho.

Charles and Isabella marry to secure funding for the viaduct. In an effort to keep prices fair, Coates takes over the market but makes himself enemies. An outbreak of fever causes panic in the Quaintain household.

With Johnny in the frame for Red's murder and Jericho's workers calling for justice, Annie pleads with Charles for help. George starts to buckle under the pressure of his dark secret, and it's up to Coates to deal with the situation.

News reaches Maid Marian that King Richard is dead, and her love, Robin, has returned from the wars.

As war with China and a cabinet reshuffle loom, politicians prepare for the annual Mid-Winter Ball. Cleaver searches for a date, but he has bigger problems when a journalist finds out that he has been renting out his government-paid apartment for profit.

Now a senator in Canberra, Cleaver makes waves with an unconventional maiden speech and causes the resignation of the governor general. After a noxious gas attack on New Parliament House, government officials are forced to relocate to the old Museum of Australian Democracy.

Penny serves Cleaver with a defamation suit, while Parliament is embroiled in a heated debate about the future of an iconic Australian ice cream. Cleaver faces staffing issues when Missy shows up at his house under the impression that she is his new press secretary.

When the American defense secretary goes missing after partying all night with Cleaver, the US Secret Service frame Cleaver in a sexting scandal. As Cleaver tries to clear his name, Australian officials scramble to sign a peace treaty.

Episode 1 explores the relationship between Australia and the Crown from 1954 through to the election of Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister in 1972. The royals are part of who we were and who we are. And despite the secrets, scandals and questions of relevance our affection for them remains as strong as ever.