The first sawmill in British Columbia, Canada was built by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1848 at Fort Langley. The mill was used to cut timber for the construction of buildings and for trade with other settlements. It was powered by water and was operated by a small number of workers. The mill played a significant role in the early development of the British Columbia lumber industry but was for local use.

The first export sawmill in the Vancouver area is believed to have been built in the 1850s in the Burrard Inlet area, near present-day Vancouver. The mill was built by a group of American entrepreneurs, led by Henry Roeder, who saw the potential for exporting lumber to markets in California and elsewhere. The mill was powered by water and was capable of producing large amounts of lumber for export. The mill was an important step in the development of the British Columbia lumber industry, which would become one of the province's most important economic sectors.

The export sawmill industry was extremely important in the early years of British Columbia, Canada. The vast forests of the region provided a valuable resource for the production of lumber, which was in high demand for building construction and other uses. The export sawmill industry was one of the first major industries in the region, providing jobs and economic growth for the developing province. The export of lumber to markets in California and other parts of the United States was a major source of revenue for the province and helped to establish British Columbia as a major player in the global timber industry. The industry also helped to spur the development of other industries, such as shipbuilding and railway construction, which were necessary to transport the lumber to market. Overall, the export sawmill industry played a significant role in the early development and growth of British Columbia.

The Hastings Mill was a sawmill located in what is now the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The mill was built in 1863 by a group of American entrepreneurs, led by Captain Edward Stamp. The mill was one of the first major industries in the area and it played a significant role in the early development of the city. The mill was powered by water and was capable of producing large amounts of lumber for export. The mill was an important step in the development of the British Columbia lumber industry, which would become one of the province's most important economic sectors. The mill was operational for over 30 years and employed a large number of workers. After its closure, the mill site was used for other industrial purposes and then it was converted into a museum, the museum is now closed and the land is used for other purposes.

In the early days of the export sawmill industry in British Columbia, the technology and process for cutting trees and sawing them into lumber was relatively simple and labor-intensive. The most common method of logging was manual felling, where trees were cut down by hand using axes and saws. Once the trees were cut down, they were then transported to the sawmill by horse-drawn carts or by floating them down rivers.

At the sawmill, the logs were first debarked and then cut into rough-cut lumber using a large saw powered by water or steam. The rough-cut lumber was then sorted and graded by quality. The best quality lumber was used for export, while the lower quality lumber was used for domestic construction and other purposes.

Later on, the process improved with the introduction of new technologies such as chainsaws, cable skidders, and trucks which replaced the manual labor and made the process faster and efficient.

The saws in the mill were powered by water or steam and were typically large circular saws or band saws. These saws were capable of cutting large amounts of lumber quickly and efficiently. The process of sawing lumber was done by skilled workers who had to be familiar with the properties of different types of wood and how to saw them properly.

Overall, the process of cutting trees and sawing them into lumber has evolved over time, with new technologies and processes being developed to make the process more efficient and less labor-intensive.

The export sawmill industry was extremely important in the early development of British Columbia, Canada. The vast forests of the region provided a valuable resource for the production of lumber, which was in high demand for building construction and other uses. The export sawmill industry was one of the first major industries in the region, providing jobs and economic growth for the developing province. The export of lumber to markets in California and other parts of the United States was a major source of revenue for the province and helped to establish British Columbia as a major player in the global timber industry. The sawmill industry also helped to spur the development of other industries, such as shipbuilding, railway construction, and logging camps, which were necessary to transport the lumber to market.

Additionally, the sawmill industry played a crucial role in the early settlement and population growth of British Columbia. Sawmills provided jobs and economic opportunities for many immigrants, particularly from Europe and Asia, who came to the province in search of work. The sawmill industry also helped to spur the development of small towns and cities around the province, such as Vancouver, Victoria, Prince Rupert and Port Alberni, which were built to support the sawmill industry.

In summary, the export sawmill industry was crucial in the early development of British Columbia. It helped to establish the province as a major player in the growing forestry industry.