"The Mclean Mill has been commemorated as a National Historic Site for its close association with the history of the British Columbia Forest Industry. The collective value of the cultural landscape and the individual site resources are both significant." (Commonwealth Historic Resource Management Ltd. A Management Plan for the R.B. Mclean Lumber Co. National Historic Site, p. 1)

The initial restoration of the R.B. Mclean Sawmill is now underway. The restoration project is a very large one due to the size and diversity of the site, and the number of groups involved. The first development plan evolved from the assessment recommendations of three consultant groups.

The consultation process involved a myriad of professionals: conservation architects, archaeologists, anthropologists, biologists, millrights, machinery specialists, historians, engineers and members of the local community. The decision to make the heritage site a working site, with an educational interpretive program, makes the restoration process the most complex and costly of all the possible alternatives. The machinery needs to be operable and safe, and the degree of interaction site visitors will have at the restored site will involve additional building features and extensive renovation.

Parks Canada has identified four main themes:


logging,


sawmilling,


labour / people


transportation/marketing

And four related themes:


technology


camp life


agriculture


forestry

The entire site has been analysed, from both a restoration and an archaeological perspective. Ongoing archaeological research will continue. The main sawmill buildings, the main mill, lumber deck, sawmill bin, powerhouse, blacksmith shop and most of the operating machinery have been extensively monitored and recorded. The chart below describes the projected use and restoration plan for the site buildings.

Short Term Restoration:


Fixing leaking roofs and weatherproofing buildings.


Continued study of the structural deterioration.


Improvement of site drainage.


Assessment of machinery condition.

Long Term Restoration:


Archaeology


Machinery conservation and overhaul


Building upgrading

Main Mill Building

Building
The main mill building was considered to be the most important restoration project because it showcases the working sawmill. The main building structure had degraded in places because of moisture, fungi and carpenter ants. New structural materials have been added to almost all of the main structural elements of the building, but it still has mostly authentic materials. One consultant described the mill building as, "an excellent document of its own construction history and evolution." (Heritage Conservation Program, Canada, Condition and Impact Assessment: Main Mill Building, p.2) Therefore more the original quality of the old building can be preserved, the better.

Machinery
The inside machinery has faired well except for deterioration due to thirty years of inactivity. The working rebuilt equipment will have many new components such as belts, and it needs to meet modern safety codes.

The equipment outside is in a state of advanced deterioration and will be replaced where warranted.

Tourism Development
The R.B. Mclean sawmill will be part of a larger group of connected historical sites in the Port Alberni area. There will be several routes available to come to the site. Visitors will be able to drive, take the restored steam train from Port Alberni or hike out to the site on a hiking trail.

Developing and maintaining the site for visitors is a major part of the restoration. The facilities will include a visitor centre, an interpretation program, and appropriate user facilities. Visitor safety and access to the working mill is a big part of this process. The impact and continued deterioration as a result of visitors will be considered as part of the ongoing restoration process.