[3] The river was first encountered by European explorers on 4 September 1818 during an expedition led by the Surveyor-General of New South Wales, John Oxley, who named the river in honour of Admiral Sir George Cockburn.

[1] From upstream to downstream, the Cockburn River flows through or near the localities of Limbri, Moonbi, Kootingal, Tintinhull and Nemingha.

A section of the Main North railway line runs along the valley of the Cockburn River.

[citation needed] It is home to fish species including catfish, yellow belly, and European carp; the last have decimated the native fish stocks to the point that they are getting harder to find.

[citation needed] There are small areas of irrigated cropping along the banks of the river and the surrounding hills are mostly used for grazing.