Wally Murdoch, a sandalwood cutter, decides to abandon the camping life and move his small family to the remote town of Ora Banda. It is 1920 and the Western Australian sandalwood industry is growing rapidly to meet the demands of Chinese customers. As Wally and Hannah settle into the small community, they become embroiled in the political machinations which affect the sandalwood industry, water shortages which inhibit the town's expansion, the dominance of gold mining, and a growing pastoral industry.
Meanwhile, their family grows and they become part of a resilient and determined community seeking to survive the external forces which affect its very existence. As increasingly incomprehensible government policies seem destined to destroy a turbulent sandalwood industry, the government's unwillingness to address the ongoing water shortages threatens to prevent the growth of both the town and the mining industry.The Sandalwood Cutter brings to life the now abandoned town of Ora Banda, along with many of its memorable identities, as the Murdoch family navigate the turbulent times of the 1920s and early 1930s. It is a heartwarming snapshot of family, community, and a determination to survive.