Decorative Panelling
Big River Group supplies a broad range of decorative panelling products for interior applications – from MDF and decorative plywood panels through to laminates, acrylics, and engineered board. Whether you’re lining a hotel lobby, fitting out a retail tenancy, or building a residential feature wall, the range covers the substrates and finished panels trade professionals need.
Our ArmourPanel decorative wall panels are manufactured in Australia by Big River. All products are available for trade pickup or delivery from our 25 locations across Australia and New Zealand.
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ArmourCab
The beauty of real Australian hardwood on a high performance panel.
Interior finishing
ArmourForm Formply - F27
Structural plywood for concrete formwork. F27 stress grade.
Commercial concrete formwork
ArmourPanel
Armourpanel is Australia’s strongest decorative plywood – ideal for durable flooring, walls, and ceilings in residential and commercial projects.
Wall Panel Systems
Deckply Range
Available in numerous sizes and thicknesses to cover all your bending and soffit requirements.
Concrete Formwork
Pre-Finished Panels
Prefinished Panels - InRaw™ ARChitectural™ Panel.
Wall panel systems
Timber Mouldings
A wide variety of Skirtings & Architraves suitable for most Australian styles and designs, sourced nationally.
Decorative Timber Mouldings
How to Choose the Right Decorative Panelling
Choosing the Right Substrate
The substrate determines structural performance, weight, and moisture tolerance. MDF is the standard choice for painted or laminated wall linings – it machines cleanly, takes paint well, and is available in fire-retardant grades for commercial applications. Decorative plywood offers superior strength-to-weight ratio and a natural timber face veneer, making it the preferred option for exposed-grain feature walls. HMR particleboard suits concealed applications or areas with elevated humidity where standard MDF would swell.
NCC Fire Group Compliance
All internal wall and ceiling linings in commercial buildings (Class 2–9) must achieve a Fire Group Number under AS 5637.1. Standard MDF and plywood typically achieve Group 3. Fire-retardant MDF achieves Group 2, and some systems with intumescent coatings can reach Group 1. The required Group Number depends on building class, location within the building, and whether sprinklers are installed. Always confirm the specific Group Number requirement with your fire engineer before specifying materials.
Laminate and Acrylic Finishes
High-pressure laminates bonded to MDF or particleboard substrates deliver consistent colour, scratch resistance, and cleanability – ideal for high-traffic commercial environments. Acrylic panels provide high-gloss, UV-stable surfaces suited to retail displays, reception areas, and splashbacks. Both finish types are available in a wide range of colours and patterns to support project specifications.
Application Considerations
For hospitality and retail fitouts, prioritise impact resistance, cleanability, and fire compliance. For residential feature walls, decorative plywood and BRG Panels offer a natural timber aesthetic with minimal ongoing maintenance. In wet-adjacent areas such as commercial kitchens or bathroom vanity walls, specify HMR substrates or acrylic-faced panels rather than standard MDF. Your Big River location team can advise on the right substrate and finish combination for your specific project requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What fire group rating do I need for interior wall panels in a commercial building?
The required Fire Group Number depends on the building class, the specific location within the building (e.g. exitway vs general area), and whether sprinklers are installed. Requirements are set out in NCC Specification C1.10, with Group Numbers determined under AS 5637.1. Most general areas in sprinklered commercial buildings require Group 3, while exitways and high-risk areas typically require Group 1 or Group 2. Confirm the specific requirement with your fire engineer before specifying.
What is the difference between decorative plywood and laminate wall panels?
Decorative plywood features a real timber face veneer bonded to a structural plywood core, delivering a natural grain appearance with good dimensional stability. Laminate wall panels use a synthetic high-pressure laminate surface bonded to an MDF or particleboard substrate, offering consistent colour, superior scratch resistance, and easier cleaning. Plywood suits exposed-grain feature walls; laminates suit high-traffic commercial environments where durability and uniformity are priorities.
Can MDF wall panels be used in wet areas?
Standard MDF is not suitable for wet areas – it will swell and degrade with prolonged moisture exposure. For wet-adjacent applications such as commercial kitchen linings or bathroom vanity walls, specify HMR (High Moisture Resistant) particleboard or acrylic-faced panels instead. These substrates are engineered to tolerate higher humidity without compromising structural integrity.
Does Big River manufacture decorative wall panels?
Big River manufactures the ArmourPanel range of decorative wall panels at their facility in Grafton, NSW. These Australian-made plywood-based panels are designed for interior feature wall applications. Big River also distributes a broader range of decorative panelling substrates and finishes through their 25 locations, including laminates, MDF, acrylics, and engineered board products.
What decorative wall panel options are suitable for hospitality and retail fitouts?
Laminate-faced MDF panels are the most common choice for hospitality and retail – they offer consistent colour, high scratch resistance, and easy cleaning in high-traffic environments. Acrylic panels suit feature walls and display areas where a high-gloss finish is specified. For premium fitouts, decorative plywood with natural timber veneer delivers a warm, architectural-grade finish. All options should be specified with the appropriate NCC Fire Group Number for the building class.
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