Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Journal kept by Mr Cox in making a road across the Blue Mountains from Emu Plains to a new country discovered by Mr Evans to the westward

Journal kept by Mr Cox in making a road across the Blue Mountains from Emu Plains to a new country discovered by Mr Evans to the westward

7 July 1814 – 6 January 1815
C 708 / 2 (Safe 1 / 265)
Manuscript journal

In 1814, the engineer, government contractor, magistrate and pastoralist William Cox was commissioned by Governor Lachlan Macquarie to build a road across the Blue Mountains from Emu Plains to the Macquarie River. Cox mustered a team of eight guards and 30 strong convicts (of whom he promised their freedom at the end of the job) to build the road. Cox was accompanied by two Aboriginal men Colebee from the Darug Tribe and the Boorooerongal Clan and Joe from the Mulgoa Clan who acted as guides and translators for the Europeans.

On the 18th July, 1814 work began on the road at Emu Plains. It took four months to complete the road to Mount York, and another two to reach the Macquarie River, near present day Bathurst.
Cox kept this journal during the project. The Mitchell Library also owns a later ‘fair’ copy, which is a neater version of the diary that was written at a later date for the purposes of publication. Extracts from his journal were finally published as part of his Memoirs in 1901.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie requested that the road and bridges be made at least 12 feet wide, but where possible, 16 feet.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie wanted the road built without distraction and a military guard was posted to keep ‘idlers’ and sightseers from disturbing the road work.

Cox's Road the first European road over the Blue Mountains, was built between July 1814 and January 1815.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie believed that if the road had been built under contract it would have taken three years; six times longer than the amount of time it took William Cox’s team.