Tassie oak desk resto

[Crick60]

G'day gents, first of all I apologise for my all thumbs approach and terminology in regards to the wood working trade unfortunately I'm an electrician so clearly out of my field but a trade none the less. Now on to the task at hand.

I recently purchased an older (50's/60's) partner style desk that was recovered from the old Sydney nab building. It's nothing flash and I only paid $25 for it. The bones are there and while it needs some TLC it's quite a nice desk.

My problem arises when upon investigation I have found that the desk top is not a solid piece but rather an oak framed, compressed timber oak veneer centre that measures the majority of the top (roughly 1.6 x 0.8)
Now this centre piece is countersunk into the top's frame to allow for the leather inlay and is only about 10mm thick so not really structurally strong considering its age, furthermore the leather needs replacing so I may as well replace the centre piece as part of the resto.

My question is this, at the above dimensions what is my best timber choice to replace this piece with? I have considered marine ply or external compressed hardwood but I am worried about the consistency of the evenness of the surface to lay the leather on.

The desk is too nice to give up on and I am aware that some considerable work is required to bring it up to scratch but I have the tools and if it's any constellation I'm railways so I have standards of work....supposedly

Any input is great fully appreciated.

[Crick60]

Sorry I just re read my post. Apology's for addressing the forum members as gents.

I would like to formally re address the forum members as esteemed wood trades and restoration enthusiast peoples.

My humble Apology's to the much fairer female compatriots of the woodworking community.

[Crick60]

[Arron]

I dont know anything about using leather, but if there are no special requirements then marine ply should be good for the job. Marine plys usually come with AA faces, meaning both sides are flat and blemish free. some might be AB, meaning one side is perfect but the other will have filled blemishes. If not satisfied, you can further sand it yourself. There is also no real chance of marine ply of that thickness sagging. Fixing the oak rim to the ply will be easy, its 50% endgrain.
Bunnings now sells some low-end (meranti) marine ply which should do.