Mr Tickle will launch his book marking the bicentenary of Oxley's journey through the Hastings Valley at Mount Seaview on Friday September 21.

Oxley led a 16-member party that in 1818 set out with instructions from Governor Macquarie to follow the Macquarie River.

"The view, at the time, was that there could be an inland sea and this expedition was designed to trace where the water flowed," Mr Tickle said.

"It was an extraordinary group of men. They came from various backgrounds but, seemingly, got on well enough to complete their journey.

"However, the trip itself was marred by extreme heavy rainfall; it must have been a real slog at times.

"They travelled north west from Bathurst and followed the river to the Macquarie Marshes. They then turned east and crossed the Castlereagh and Liverpool Plains. Near today’s Tamworth they crossed the southern part of the New England Range near Walcha.

"The party camped and named Mount Seaview."

Mr Tickle said Oxley eventually made his way to what is now known as Port Macquarie before returning to Sydney.

The author praised Oxley and the first group of explorers adding that every following expedition built on that initial journey.

Mr Tickle said his book contained some 130,000 words along with 80 photographs and maps.

It has taken two years to compile.

He said his book would provide information on all 16 members within the party.

"It's one of my pet hates that we tend to only focus on the hierarchy, so I wanted to cover all the members of the expedition team," he added.

Mr Tickle has spent almost 40 years working in the history and archaeology fields.

Part of the research for the book took him to Oxley's birth place in Kirkham, north Yorkshire while he also spent time at the British Public Records Office.

Once completed the book will be available for sale.

A number of descendants from the expedition will be attending the book launch to kick off the bicentenary celebrations at Mt Seaview on Friday September 21.