The narrator arrives in the sleepy and dilapidated country town of Noonoon for reasons of health, initially putting up at a rough local hotel before securing a coveted room at Clay's. Run by the formidable, principled Mrs. Martha Clay, Clay's is situated by the river and serves as the social heart of the valley. Here, the narrator becomes captivated by Mrs. Clay's granddaughter, Dawn, a vibrant, independent young woman whose beauty and quick wit make her the local belle, despite her reluctance to succumb to conventional romantic pursuits.
Life at Clay's is marked by eccentric characters, including the lazy Uncle Jake and the breezy, irreverent boy Andrew, as well as passing encounters with local gossips like Mrs. Bray. The narrative paints a vivid picture of rural Australian life, contrasting the fertile valley's abundance of rotting fruit and melons with the stagnant, unprogressive mentality of the townspeople. Beneath the surface of daily domesticity, deeper conflicts brew, notably the tragic undercurrents represented by another boarder, Miss Flipp, whose hidden despair and subsequent downfall highlight the harsher realities faced by women of the era.
As the story progresses, the introduction of politics injects a fresh energy into Noonoon. The impending parliamentary election, coinciding with the historic enfranchisement of women, stirs the community. A handsome political candidate, Leslie Walker, arrives, capturing the imagination of the town and drawing Dawn into committee work. Meanwhile, the narrator acts as a subtle matchmaker, gently steering Dawn away from the stolid local farmer 'Dora' Eweword and toward a more fitting connection with Ernest Breslaw, a visiting athlete.
The narrative balances humor and gravity, exploring the struggles of women seeking independence against a backdrop of provincial narrow-mindedness. Through extended conversations with Mrs. Clay, the reader learns of the harsh pioneer history of the region and the resilient spirit of its early settlers. The novel concludes with a sense of transition, as Dawn begins vocal training in Sydney, hinting at a broader horizon beyond the dusty, slow-paced streets of Noonoon, while the older generation looks on with a mixture of apprehension and pride.
