In 1871, Hann wrote to the Queensland minister for public works and goldfields William Henry Walsh with the proposition of a northern expedition.
ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn, hˈæn ɹˈoʊt tə ðə kwˈiːnslənd mˈɪnɪstɚ fɔːɹ pˈʌblɪk wˈɜːks ænd ɡˈoʊldfiːldz wˈɪljəm hˈɛnɹi wˈɔlʃ wɪððə pɹˌɑːpəzˈɪʃən əvə nˈɔːɹðɚn ˌɛkspədˈɪʃən.