Whilst outlining the history of the Kowmung River and the Burragorang region, author Jim Barrett realised that there was a need to document the history of the Cox's River into which drain three of the major rivers of the Blue Mountains area. The river and its valley were discovered by Blaxland during his trek over the Blue Mountains, but for various reasons, it was named after William Cox who built the road in his footsteps, much to Blaxland's chagrin. Barrett takes us from this point through the development of the surrounding region, noting its uses under indigenous husbanding and then during European occupation up until today. This includes the extensive flooding which was instigated in 1958 by the Sydney Water Board during the construction of the Waragamba Dam.
The book has many maps and monochrome illustrations.