We assume the existing pine mouldings are too easily dented or damaged and a harder timber species is needed. Common timbers have been rated for hardness according to a standard indentation test. Pine is rated 3.3 on the hardness scale, whereas blackbutt is 8.9 and spotted gum 10.1. Not all timber merchants can supply mouldings in Australian hardwood species but moulding specialists such as Rallis Timbers should be able to help, website here http://www.rallistimber.com.au/milling-mouldings.html.
Unfortunately we are not aware of anyone stocking or producing the textured hardboard shown in your photo. Hardboard is not MDF, it's a sheet product known in earlier times as Masonite. It is now produced in a Standard Grade and a "tempered" version, but not with an overlay as far as we are aware, more info via this link https://plywoodaustralia.com.au/hardboard/. Hardboard is also produced as an external cladding material under the brand-name Weathertex. We feel it is unlikely that companies would be holding old stock of textured hardboard from the 1960's.
We have recently begun to import American red oak and I was pleased to see that red oak is listed on the table of species that have been tested and a Fire Group number given (Fire Hazard Properties Specification S7C4 Wall and Ceiling Linings [2019: Spec C1.10: 4]), however on looking into the report from Warrington Fire (RIR 45908.10), they have listed the species as Quercus Alba (actually, they say Quercus Abla), not Quercus Rubra. We all know it will be Group 3, but could you confirm which species was actually tested, and whether the resulting group number can be applied to Quercus Rubra without further testing?
American red oak was not included in Warringtonfire's tests on wall and ceiling linings, only American white oak as per our Regulatory Information Report RIR 45980.10. However, red oak has been confirmed as a Group 3 material in a separate report which we will send direct to your email.
