Mrs. Appleyard is the austere English headmistress of Appleyard College for Young Ladies. She runs her school with rigid discipline and places extreme value on aristocratic female propriety. Her deep concern with reputation and order governs every aspect of the college.

Miranda is a practical and beautiful seventeen-year-old senior student from Queensland. She acts as a surrogate mother figure to the younger girls and possesses a patient nature. She exerts a calming influence on the strict environment of the college.

Irma is a senior student at Appleyard College and the wealthy heiress to a fortune built on mines and estates. She dresses fashionably and maintains a cheerful demeanor. She finds herself deeply drawn to the mysterious atmosphere of the Australian bush during the school excursion.

Albert is a working-class coachman employed at the Lake View estate. Having grown up in an orphanage and experienced homelessness, he possesses intense practicality and street smarts. He maintains an independent attitude despite his employment by a wealthy family.

Michael is a young aristocratic English man visiting his aunt and uncle in Australia. Accustomed to a life of luxury and strict social class rules in Britain, he finds the relative equality and wild terrain of the Australian bush fascinating. He is quickly drawn into the mystery surrounding the local area.

Marion is a seventeen-year-old senior student at Appleyard College and an orphan whose legal guardian plays little role in her life. She is highly intelligent and excels in mathematics. She operates as a sensible and rational presence among the students.

Sara is an orphaned thirteen-year-old girl and the youngest student at Appleyard College. She struggles with the strict rules and harsh discipline of the school. Her life at the college is lonely, brightened mostly by her devotion to her roommate and her art classes.

Miss McCraw is the mathematics teacher at Appleyard College. She is a highly rational, aloof woman who prefers numbers to fashion or socializing. She approaches the world with strict logic and calculation.

Mademoiselle de Poitiers is the young, beautiful French and dancing teacher at Appleyard College. She is romantic and observant, appreciating the grace of her students. She provides a softer, more sympathetic presence compared to the other staff members.

Edith is a younger student at Appleyard College, widely considered the least intelligent of the group. She lacks the grace of the senior girls but eagerly tags along with them. She is highly literal and easily disturbed by the vastness of the natural world.

Mr. Hussey is a local buggy driver hired by Appleyard College for excursions. He is a practical man who enjoys the polite company of the senior girls but finds the younger students irritating. He acts as a primary witness to the timeline of the excursion.

Constable Bumpher is the local police detective in charge of investigating incidents in the Woodend area. He handles the logistical challenges of organizing search parties and interviewing witnesses in the tight-knit community.

Mr. Whitehead is the English gardener at Appleyard College. He works tirelessly to impose British uniformity and order upon the wild Australian surroundings, creating pristine vegetable and flower gardens that align with the headmistress's vision.

Tom is the Irish handyman at Appleyard College. He manages various physical tasks around the school and occasionally interacts with the students. He plans to marry a fellow servant and move on from the college.

Minnie is a domestic servant at Appleyard College. She handles the day-to-day care of the girls and observes the growing tension within the school's walls.

Doctor McKenzie is the local physician who attends to the medical needs of the Macedon community. He is frequently called upon to treat shock, exhaustion, and physical injuries among the locals.

Colonel Fitzhubert is Michael's uncle and the owner of Lake View, a grand property in the Macedon area. He represents the wealthy, aristocratic British class that vacations in the Australian countryside.

Mrs. Vallange is the art teacher at Appleyard College. She recognizes and nurtures the creative talents of her students, offering a brief respite from the school's otherwise rigid academic environment.

Miss Lumley is a junior teacher at Appleyard College. She lacks the authority and composure of her colleagues, often failing to manage the students effectively during moments of crisis.

Mr. Cosgrave is Sara's legal guardian. He maintains his distance from the college, interacting primarily through correspondence and financial payments.

Mr. Leopold is Irma's wealthy father. He uses his vast financial resources to handle matters concerning his family.

Angela is a young woman who seeks the attention of Michael Fitzhubert. She embodies the traditional, polite English manners that Michael finds suffocating.

Reg Lumley is the brother of junior teacher Miss Lumley. He handles his sister's affairs and speaks on her behalf.