Big River Industries Ltd has acquired the business and assets of Johns Building Supplies, one of Western Australia’s most established trade-focused building materials suppliers

The acquisition strengthens Big River’s national trade network and expands its presence in the high-growth Western Australian construction market. Johns Building Supplies services builders, subcontractors and commercial customers across structural timber, engineered wood, cladding, lining and interior fit out categories.

Founded more than 40 years ago, the company has built a strong reputation for service, reliable supply and long-standing customer relationships. Its operations align closely with Big River’s strategy of growing scale in resilient trade-focused segments and increasing its presence in key regional markets.

Big River CEO, John Lorente said the acquisition represents an important strategic milestone for the business.

“Johns Building Supplies is a high-quality Western Australian business with deep relationships and a long track record of supporting the trade,” Lorente said. “This acquisition broadens our presence in a key growth region and strengthens our offering across the structural timber, panels and building materials categories. We have great respect for the business John Lindsay and his family have built, and we look forward to welcoming the team into the Big River Group.”

John Lindsay, representing the owners of Johns Building Supplies, said joining Big River marks a natural next step for the company.

“Our family has always focused on providing trusted service, quality products and dependable supply to the WA trade market,” Lindsay said. “Big River shares those same values. Becoming part of Big River ensures our customers will continue to receive the personalised service they rely on, while benefiting from the scale, product range and national strength of a larger group.”

Existing customers and supplier partners will continue to be serviced without interruption, with both businesses working together to ensure a smooth transition. The existing management team will remain in place to support continuity for staff and customers.

Completion of the acquisition is expected on or around 15 December 2025, subject to customary conditions. John’s Building Supplies will continue to operate from its Western Australian site under the Big River network.

Western Australia remains one of Australia’s strongest construction markets, supported by ongoing population growth, infrastructure investment and a robust resources sector. The acquisition positions Big River to capture additional demand and further strengthen its service capabilities in the region.

Big River Industries Ltd (Big River, ASX: BRI), a leader in the manufacturing and distribution of timber and building products, is excited to announce the acquisition of Specialised Laminators (SLQ), a renowned panel products company based in Brisbane, Queensland. This strategic move enhances Big River’s panel product offerings and strengthens its presence in the industry.

SLQ, established in 1977, has earned an outstanding reputation for producing high-quality decorative and functional panel products. Known for their innovative solutions and commitment to excellence, SLQ’s products are highly regarded in the construction and architectural sectors. The acquisition will allow customers to access an expanded range of premium panel solutions through Big River’s Panels division nationally, combining the strengths of both companies to deliver superior products and services.

“Bringing SLQ into the Big River family is a significant milestone in our mission to offer top-quality panel products to our customers,” said John Lorente, CEO of Big River Group. “This acquisition allows us to expand our specialised Panels Division, providing customers with a broader selection of innovative and high-performance panel solutions. The synergies between SLQ and Big River create exciting opportunities for growth and product development.”

John Closter, one of SLQ’s founders, and Wayne Austin, General Manager, will continue to lead the business under the Big River umbrella, ensuring continuity and leveraging their expertise to drive future success. “Joining Big River Group is an exciting new chapter for SLQ. We are confident that our combined expertise and resources promise enhanced product availability, improved supply chain efficiencies, and innovative panel solutions tailored to meet diverse construction needs,” said Closter.

“We are thrilled to become part of Big River, a company that shares our commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Our customers can look forward to an expanded product range and enhanced service capabilities,” Austin adds.

Big River has been operating for over 120 years, manufacturing and distributing timber and steel formwork products, timber flooring, building products, structural plywood and related timber products. It also distributes a broad range of other building products, including MaxiWall and MaxiFloor, primarily to the commercial, residential and infrastructure construction market segments.

Building industry leader, Big River Group, is continuing to expand its national network and increase its architectural product offering, with the acquisition of specialty manufacturer, Timberwood Panels. The acquisition sees the combination of the strong and successful operating histories of both businesses to create a larger and more diversified business.

While Big River Group is the recognised expert in plywood and decorative panels, the opportunity to buy a quality player with niche manufacturing and distribution capability across a range of panel products was especially attractive to Big River. The purchase was consistent with Big River’s strategy for geographical and segment growth, transforming the Group into a major player in the plywood and architectural panels markets across both Australia and New Zealand.

Timberwood has operated in the market for 13 years, and is particularly strong in the architectural product area as a specialty manufacturer and distributor of a range of panel products including veneers, veneered and coloured boards, plywood, particleboard and MDF.

“I am excited to announce that Big River is embarking on a significant step in progressing its growth strategy in the specialty panels market, with a transaction that will transform us into a leading player in plywood and architectural panels markets. This is highly complementary with the expansion the Company undertook into New Zealand in 2019, together with the long history Big River has across a range of specialised panels products,” says Big River’s CEO, Jim Bindon.

As well as having a strong, diverse customer network and both local and overseas suppliers, Timberwood has operations across three sites in Victoria and the ACT, as well as customers across all States & Territories.

With the acquisition of Timberwood, Big River Group now owns and manages 21 sales and distribution outlets around Australia and New Zealand, as well as manufacturing and fabrication facilities at Grafton and Wagga Wagga in NSW, Melbourne, Geelong, Adelaide, Perth and Auckland New Zealand.

Big River Group has been operating for over 110 years, manufacturing and distributing timber and steel formwork products, timber flooring, building products, structural plywood and related timber products. It also distributes a broad range of other building products, including MaxiWall and MaxiFloor, primarily to the commercial, residential and infrastructure construction market segments.

Learn more about Timberwood Panels here: https://www.timberwood.com.au/

Big River Industries Ltd (ASX: BRI) advises that it is has agreed to acquire the assets and trading business of Big Hammer Building Supplies, located in Townsville North QLD. The purchase is subject to certain nonmaterial pre-conditions which are expected to be met, with completion to subsequently occur on 1 August 2019.

Whilst Big River already operates a building supplies distribution site in Townsville, the opportunity to combine the strong operating histories of both businesses to create a larger and more diversified business is especially attractive to BRI.

Big Hammer has operated in the market for over 26 years, and is particularly strong in the alterations and additions market as well as having a strong client base outside of the Townsville region. Big River’s existing branch has its strength in the commercial and civil construction markets, as well as having a considerable overlap in the supply of residential building products to both detached houses and multi-unit dwellings.

Combining these two respective strengths creates a business of scale, with an exposure to all construction segments, a wide geographic area within North QLD and over 300 trading accounts.

The owner of Big Hammer, John Geaney, will remain in a management role within the combined business and the existing Big River staff will transition across into the consolidated business.

Jim Bindon, Big River CEO said: “We have discussed this opportunity with John several times over an extended period, as the compatibility of the two businesses has been clear for many years. We are pleased to be able to offer the customers of North QLD the opportunity of an expanded product offer and experienced team to increase the services we can provide for them and their businesses”.

Consideration for the transaction includes a $1.8m payment in cash at completion, and a maximum of $0.2m in additional earn out payments over a two year period, subject to certain profitability targets being met.

Construction industry leader, Big River Group, announces an agreement to acquire the assets and trading business of The Midland Timber Co Pty Ltd (Midland Timber) located at Bellevue, Perth in Western Australia.

The acquisition continues the expansion of the Big River network into the major population centres of Australia, with 15 sites nationally; this additional location will enable them to directly supply the Trade segment of the building and construction industry in Perth and surrounds.

As a business focused on supplying building products and prefabricated timber wall frames and roof trusses to the Alterations & Additions market, the acquisition will provide Midland Timber with a platform to diversify by leveraging Big River’s position in the commercial and multi-residential segments to offer an enhanced service and product range for existing Big River clients, whilst bringing a whole new range of customers and products into the Big River Group.

“Midland Timber will become an important part of the Big River network providing a strategic positioning in the WA market,” says Jim Bindon, CEO of Big River Group. “The site is very well equipped to supply the broader range of products marketed by Big River Group into all construction segments of Perth and Western Australia.”

Midland Timber has a long trading history in Perth, having been established almost 20 years ago. Sallie Schorer, one of the founders of the business, will assist with the transition, while the General Manager, Dean Maringoni and all other staff will be retained as part of the move into the Big River Group.

Big River Group has been operating for over 100 years, manufacturing and distributing timber and steel formwork products, timber flooring, building products, structural plywood and related timber products. It also distributes a broad range of other building products, including MaxiWall and MaxiFloor, primarily to the commercial, residential and infrastructure construction market segments.