Joan, Bea and Paddy are dramatically saved from the burning prison. However, Mouse and Barbara are killed by the fire. While the damaged building is renovated, the women are accomodated at Woodridge. Paddy is released and goes to stay at Driscoll House, while at the same time Maxine is arrested again. The male prisoners at Woodridge protest against the women's priviligies. Jeannie Stanton gives birth to a child in Woodridge with the help from Bea and Chrissie. Colleen is at risk being discredited after the fire, because dangerous chemicals had been stored in a wrong way. The police pressure Bea, Chrissie and Margo about the reasons to the fire. Andy Hudson escapes and looks for Paddy at Driscoll House. Tony calls the police and both Paddy and Andy are arrested. Tony resigns.
A new prisoner arrives, Valerie Jacobs, she is an old mate of Colleen. Hazel Kent, who has been released for a while, shows up at Driscoll House, very worn-out. Colleen tries to make Valerie spy on the other women. A mysterious woman, Jean Carter, arrives at Driscoll House. Sara Hamilton is acquitted at her trial. Hazel steals money from Jean and disappears. The women move back to the renovated Wentworth. The Department choose to silence down the causes of the fire and no-one is punished. The police arrest Hazel and Jean. Margo is transferred to another block. Judy's sister, Frances Hunter, shows up at Driscoll House, obviously she is trying to make Judy disinherited. Security at Wentworth is tightened after the fire. Trixie Mann is a new prisoner. The women find out that Hazel is innocent of bank robbery and that Jean is the guilty one. Paddy lags to Erica about this to free Hazel. Thereafter it is revealed that Jean's real name is Nola McKenzie and that she risks deportation to and death penalty in Western Australia for two murders. Hazel is released. Chrissie is transferred. Nola drowns Paddy to avoid deportation.
Meg is fired after missing to stop smuggling of cigarrettes. The women strike for her and the resignation is withdrawn. Maxine leads a gang with among others Trixie and Faye that bash Nola as revenge for the murder of Paddy. Thereafter Nola seeks out one after another in that gang and gives back in the same way. She also takes control over gambling and smuggling activities and lets Faye run it. Judy buys a new Driscoll House. Bea attacks and brands Nola. Colleen is tired of her marriage and stays with Meg for a while. A baby is anonymously left at Driscoll House. Hazel wants to take care of it. It shows to be Judy's grandchild. Lori has become depressed because the child has an impairment of hearing. A new prisoner at Wentworth is Janice Young. Her husband, Chris Young, who is a carpenter, makes some work at Meg's. He and Colleen starts a relation. Maxine gets smuggle goods through her friend Roxanne Bradshaw. Faye is released, but has difficulties finding her place in society, mainly because of her gambling addiction. Maxine starts working for Nola. Lori accepts her deaf child.
Nola starts co-operating with Joan. A new prisoner arrives, Jill Clark. In fact, she is sent by Ted Douglas to spy on both prisoners and staff. Janice is furious with Colleen for her relation with Chris. Some of the women help renovating the new Driscoll House. Bea bashes Maxine for the co-operation with Nola. Bea begins to feel isolated among the women. Joan reveals that Jill is a spy. Faye is arrested again. Colleen moves back with her family. Janice is released. Bea steals a uniform and manages to escape dressed as an officer. Nola takes over as top dog. Jill is released since she is revealed. Helen Smart serves a short time at Wentworth again.
Two new prisoners arrive, Lainie Dobson and Ellen Farmer. They are first regarded as a lesbian couple, but it is soon revealed that Ellen is a man and his real name is Alan. He is released without consequence because the Department want to silence down the embarrassing event. Wentworth is liberalized following Jill Clark's report. Lindy Delaney, who stays at Driscoll House, is raped. First suspect is neighbour Trevor Collins, but finally the real perpetrator is arrested. A new prisoner, Dianne Henley, arrives at Wentworth. It shows she can't read. Accordning to reforms she gets a teacher in prison. Bea has travelled to Sydney and tries to keep away from police. She seeks help from Doreen who has moved there. Bea has been reported to the police by a friend of Doreen and she is arrested. Joan and Nola create unrest at the prison and Ted Douglas has had enough of Erica and fires her.
Colleen is appointed Acting Governor with Meg as Deputy. These two, as well as Joan, apply for the position of new Governor. Bea is returned to Wentworth and on Joan's initiative she is bashed by Nola and her gang. The women begin to feel dissatisfied with Nola and turns to Bea. Joan's father, Major Ferguson, visits her at Wentworth. Joan and Nola decide to make away with Bea. To everyone's surprise, Ted Douglas introduces Wentworth's new Governor, Ann Reynolds.
Denise Tyler, who has stayed at Driscoll House for a while, is remanded after one of her sons has been found dead and she has taken the blame for it. Later she is released when it shows that her second son killed his brother in a fight. Joan tries to favour herself with the new Governor. Lainie is released. Joan and Nola take help from new prisoner Zara Moonbeam to try to drive Bea into suicide. Maxine is released. Tracey Belman, who is confined to wheel-chair, arrives as prisoner to Wentworth, accused of having killed her husband. Wally and Mikki help Judy with Driscoll House. Nola manufactures a zip gun for Bea to commit suicide with, but Lizzie reveals the plan. Bea uses the gun to shoot Nola to death.
Litza Stathopoulos, who has family problems, stays at Driscoll House. Mikki makes so clumsy attempts to help her that Judy must decline further assistance from her, though Wally stays on. Maxine makes a robbery to help her sister, Pauline Carter, and her husband, Roger Carter. They put the blame on her and she is arrested again. Joan makes Tracey realize her problems are psychic, not physical. Tracey is moved to Barnhurst. Maggie May Kennedy, who is an old acquaintance of Lizzie, is arrested for drug smuggling. Confused librarian Laura Gardiner appears as prostitute Brandy Carter and ends up in Wentworth. Joan's neighbour, Carol Coulson, kills her husband during a family row and is taken to Wentworth. Joan temporarily takes care of their little daughter. Carol commits suicide in prison.
Roxanne Bradshaw, who is pregnant, is placed at Wentworth. Mysterious woman Pixie Mason, who appears under different names, stays at Driscoll House for a while. She is arrested for bigamy and taken to Wentworth. Another Driscoll House inhabitant, Frances Harvey, begins to come into the story and soon ends up in Wentworth. Laura/Brandy tries to commit suicide. Ann's son, Paul Reynolds, comes into the story. He is a photographer and happens to take a picture of Ted Douglas talking to gangster boss Lionel Fellowes. Bea gets hold of a copy of the photo and blackmails Douglas. Roxanne gives birth to her baby and it shows that she on beforehand has sold it to a family and she gives it up. Helen Smart tells Judy that her sister, Sharon Smart, has been involved with a religious sect and needs help. Gerri Doogan is placed as prisoner at Wentworth by Ted Douglas to find the compromising photo. Meg's son, Marty, comes to visit his mother during a shore leave from the Navy. He brings a mate, Dennis Quinn, who takes a fancy to Meg. Laura is transferred for psychiatric care. The police finally unveil Ted Douglas, he is forced to resign and is arrested.
Helen lets kidnap Sharon to have her deprogrammed at Driscoll House. However the plan misfires and Sharon kills the deprogrammer, Colin Burton. Helen and Sharon are arrested. A new prisoner, Petra Roberts, comes to Wentworth on remand for the murder of her father. Scott Collins, who has helped at Driscoll House, starts working as doctor at Wentworth. It shows he is engaged to Petra. Dennis Quinn, who has become obcessed with Meg, tries to kill her after being rejected. Meg is saved by police in the last minute and Dennis is arrested. Joan is visted by her niece, Lucy Ferguson. She is arrested for possession of drugs and placed at Wentworth. Lionel Fellowes wants revenge at Wentworth and lets timed bombs be placed at the prison. One of them explodes and kills the disarmer, Major Hunt and Bea is injured. Arthur Richards is appointed new Head of the Department. Sharon is released, but Helen is kept in prison. Ann and Wally starts a romance. Lucy threatens to reveal who she is, so Joan helps her and Maxine to escape. Petras sister, Emma Roberts, commits suicide.
Glynnis Ladd arrives as prisoner to Wentworth. She is very ill and dies shortly afterwards. It shows she had a dangerous epidemic disease, Lassa fever, and the prison is put under quarantine. Maxine is shot dead by a guard during a burglary. The naive and innocent Rosemary Kaye comes to town and is soon robbed of everything she owns. Wally helps her and finds housing for her at a boarding house. Several prisoners and officers fall ill with Lassa fever. Prisoner Lil Stokes and Officer Sharpe die before the disease ebbs away.