It's the 1880s, and Marvellous Melbourne is a lavish and raucous city where anything could happen. There's nothing to stop eccentric entrepreneur, Edward William Cole, from building the sprawling Cole's Book Arcade and filling it with whatever amuses him, or supports his favourite causes. But the 1890s depression hits Melbourne-- and Edward-- hard, and the death of one of his children leaves him reeling. Grief, corruption and a beautiful, unscrupulous widow all threaten to derail his singular vision. But it's not until he visits Chinatown one night-- and his own deeply suppressed past-- that the idealist faces his toughest challenge.