Explore remnants of the historic Cox’s Road

In 1814, Governor Macquarie asked William Cox to supervise the building of a road capable of taking horse carriages, from Emu Plains to Bathurst.

This was over mountainous terrain which had been surveyed the previous year by George Evans. The colony was growing and needed the lush pastures on the west of the Blue Mountains. Cox selected 30 convicts who looked strong enough to work hard – their freedom at the completion was to be their reward. There were also 6 supervisors with them. In six months they covered over 160 kms, with no serious accidents and no deaths. During this time they built over 30 bridges and cut several posts and rails. The ridge at Linden was the most difficult part of the terrain.

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