Paving the Way: From England, Ireland, Prussia and Bavaria to South Australia and New Zealand

Paving the Way traces the author's family history, from England, Ireland, Prussia and Bavaria to the Colony of South Australia. The story commences as an adoption story with the author trying to identify the genetic origins of her deceased father, which spurs further research on the European pioneer ancestors of South Australia (all arriving from 1837 to 1853).

This story includes several of Kavel's people, a group who with the support of George Fife Angas, founder of the South Australia Company, fled religious persecution in Prussia.

It also includes pioneer Barossa Valley winemaker Johann Gramp, founder of Gramp and Sons which became Orlando and then Jacob's Creek. Gramp came to the colony as an 18-year-old orphan and founded an empire. He was originally from Bavaria.

The story also traces the Irish Fahy family, which commences with Edmund Fahy arriving in the mining town of Kapunda, sponsored by Edward Stirling, whilst his two younger sisters are sent to a relative in Mount Gambier, and Edmund's son becomes a pioneer of Moorak.

It also includes the famous fishing family, the Rumbelow family of Encounter Bay, whose member Caroline Cakebread (nee Rumbelow) was said to the basis of the character Petrel in Simpson Newman's 1893 book Paving the Way.

The book also includes the lesser known Lomman family, pioneers of Paradise and Athelstone, and the Battams family, pioneers of Payneham/Norwood and Moorook, Riverland, whose member Daniel Battams struck gold on the Victorian goldfields and became a publican and 'gentleman' involved in the establishment of Adelaide, but who suffered mixed fortunes.

This family history also explores early interactions between European settlers and Aboriginal South Australians.

The book is set in the social and historical context of the six generations which is spans, with vignettes on interesting characters, and reflects on the nature of families and social change, particularly for women.