The discovery of gold having extended so far north in Queensland had raised a hope that its existence would be traced along the promontory.

Hann had with him Taylor as geologist, and Dr.Tate as botanist, the latter being a survivor of the melancholy Maria expedition to New Guinea.

Apparently his ardour for exploration had not been cooled by the narrow escape he had then experienced.
The party left Fossilbrook station on the creek of the same name, a tributary of the Lynd, north of the initial point of the Jardine expedition.

Crossing much rugged and broken country, they found two rivers running into the Mitchell, and named them the Tate and the Walsh.
From the Walsh, the party proceeded to the upper course of the Mitchell, and crossing it, struck a creek, marked on Kennedy's map as "creek ninety yards wide." This was named the Palmer, and here Warner, the surveyor found traces of gold.

A further examination of the river resulted in likely-looking results being obtained; and the discovery is now a matter of history, the world-wide Palmer rush to north Queensland being the result in 1874.
On the 1st of September, Hann reached his northern limit, and the next day commenced the ascent of the range dividing the eastern and western waters.