 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 (b1869), a craftsman from the Carlton district of Melbourne.Kinsman or relative, Angus McLean may also have been involved.