Peter McLean

Who is Peter McLean?

Peter McLean, a cabinet maker of Dumfries, Scotland, arrived in Port Phillip, Australia in February 1853 with his family during the gold rush. He crafted one of the finest and most remarkable examples of Victorian colonial cabinetmaking, no doubt with the post gold rush market in mind.

Described as a tour de force of precision joinery, wooden inlay and detailed, high-relief carving, McLean's pièce de résistance was a remarkable sideboard, or 'buffet', which has carved scenes depicting the early days of the then Colony of Victoria, including a native chief of the Yarra Yarra tribe and a tableau of Melbourne's founder John Batman with John Buckley. Whilst he would have been responsible for its overall design, it is probable that the carvings, which have a mix of British and Silesian styles were the work of Felix Terlecki, a craftsman from the Carlton district of Melbourne. Kinsman or relative, Angus McLean may also have been involved.

McLean was one of 3,360 exhibitors at the Intercolonial Exhibition of Australasia held in Melbourne in 1866-67, where he received a medal 'for excellent workmanship'. Described by a probable descendant, 'D. McL', as the work of a 'major part of half a lifetime', the sideboard was rebuilt and enlarged to include a new arched back inlaid with over 1,000 pieces of mahogany, cedar, blackwood and satinwood in time for the 42nd International Exhibition, held in London in 1873. Here, McLean received a Bronze Medal.