William Cox’s road gang was made up of 30 convict labourers, who were chosen for their strength and work ethics. They were not paid for their work, but they did receive ‘slops’ which included shoes, trousers and a blanket. Their tool kits were basic, and consisted of axes, cross-cut saws, hoes, sledgehammers and tomahawks. As well as these simple tools, the group also had access to blasting equipment, quarrying tools, and a blacksmith’s anvil. It was hard work, but the men’s biggest incentive was the promise of freedom at the end of the job.

As well as the 30 convicts, a party of eight soldiers accompanied the group to ensure that the convicts did not escape down the road, and to protect the equipment and supplies at the various depots along the road. Four supervisors also assisted Cox, overseeing smaller work gangs.

Cox worked in a leapfrogging way, riding ahead with an advance party to assess and mark out the route, before returning to the main gang of workers who slowly followed the advance party. Behind them, a third group moved provisions from depot to depot as the road progressed. He made sure his men were adequately fed – regularly supplementing the usual cured salt pork with cabbages in order to ward off scurvy. Kangaroos were also hunted when supplies were low.  

The was completed on 14^th January 1815. In May, 1815, Macquarie undertook a tour of inspection and fixed a site for the new township of Bathurst. The convict workers were rewarded with their freedom and the supervisors received land grants and cattle. Cox himself received £3000 and a large land grant.

The road opened up vast pastoral lands to the colony, enabling settlers to travel west with their families and livestock. In time, these rich new lands not only supplied the colony with meat and wool, but enabled the next great economic boom – the gold rush.

The names of the men who worked on Cox’s Road were recorded in a memorandum by William Cox regarding rewards for services to Government. The two Indigenous men who accompanied them were not mentioned.