Starting from the Ranken, a tributary of the Georgina, Buchanan struck a westerly course, and discovering the head of a well-watered creek running through fine open downs, he followed it down to the westward for some days.

The creek eventually ran out into dry flats, so Buchanan struck westward to the telegraph line, which he reached after some hardship, a little to the south of Tennant's Creek.

The creek which he discovered, and to which Favenc afterwards gave the name of Buchanan's Creek, was a most important discovery, affording a practicable stock route to the great pastoral district lying between the Queensland border and the overland line.
Frank Scarr, a Queensland surveyor, was the next to invade this strip of still unknown land.

He attempted to steer a course south of Buchanan's, but was turned back by the dry belt of country.

On this excursion he also found two of the horses of the ill-fated Prout brothers.