The Buchan River rises below Blue Hill in a remote alpine wilderness area within the Alpine National Park, and flows generally south through the town of Buchan.

[1][2] The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the upper reaches of the Buchan River are the Australian Aboriginal Bidawal and Nindi-Ngudjam Ngarigu Monero peoples;[5] while in its lower reaches, the Gunaikurnai people identify the land surrounding Buchan as their traditional country.

[6] At Cloggs Cave near Buchan, evidence has been found of Aboriginal occupation in prehistoric times.

There were small groups of Aboriginals in the area but their numbers declined rapidly after European settlement.

John Bulmer inspected land south of Buchan as a possible site for a mission station.