At its heart, Banished is a story of survival. Though it is set in the stark historical reality of the founding of the penal colony in Australia in 1788 after the arrival of the First Fleet, it is not the story of Australia and how it came to be. Rather, it is a tale of love, faith, justice and morality played out on an epic scale in a confined community where the stakes are literally life and death.

Sam and Silvy are best friends. One night, as they are watching a falling star while floating on their backs in a lake, Sylvy disappears from his side. Despite his best efforts, he cannot find her under water. Many years later, Sam, now a psychologist, returns to bury his father. Back in his hometown, he meets a woman called Ruby who reminds him in so many ways of his lost love.

Julian is perfectly happy in his relationship with the pretty blond Clare. That is, until he meets Anna, a dark-haired, bikini-clad beauty who he encounters while he is house-sitting. Passion reigns in their relationship, and soon Julian learns that Anna is more dangerous than he ever would have thought.