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Birrell, James, 1928- Subseries
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University Colleges, Townsville and Mt Gravatt

In 1957, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Queensland, Professor James Douglas Story, proposed a regional university college be established. This desire came to fruition on 27 February 1961 when the University College of Townsville was opened. This college became the James Cook University of North Queensland on 29 April 1970 and is now known as James Cook University.

In 1965 430 acres of bushland was set aside for a new campus in Brisbane's south in the suburb Nathan. Initially this was to be a University college of the University of Queensland but by September 1971 it was established as Griffith University.

Birrell was asked by the Co-Ordinator General of the Public Works to draw up plans for both colleges. The majority of these plans have the title block for the University of Queensland and James Birrell as the UQ Architect. This subseries contains plans for the University Colleges, Townsville (22 plans) and Mt Gravatt (23 plans).

Birrell, James, 1928-

Student work of James Birrell

Student work of James Birrell while studying at Melbourne University , as a fourth year student in 1950 and fifth year in 1951. Includes: Living quarters for old people ; Lighthouse and coastguard station ; St Judes Church of England, Carlton, Victoria ; Multistory city building ; Factory Unit ; Dairy buildings on a farm at Nar Nar Goon ; Streatham District Hospital ; City Bus Terminal ; Collins Street premises for a diamond dealer ; Road sign at the Haymarket ; Post office building, North Essendon ; Tomorrows house ; Open air theatre ; Himalayan trade bridge ; Sketchbook of notable architecture in Britain and France.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Student Union Precinct, University of Queensland

There are two architectural drawings, ink on paper, with the title The Union which may form part of the pilot plans for an extension to The Union Building which Birrell designed in 1962. There are 14 drawings for the Master Planning Report upon the Student Union Precinct University of Queensland, which was produced by Birrell and assistant architect Richard Stringer. This report was submitted to the Buildings and Grounds Committee in March 1966. 12 of these 14 drawings have the University of Queensland title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect. Included with these drawings, which form part of the master plan for the precinct, are several designs for a Union Theatre. There are two pencil drawings related to the Union Theatre, without title, date, or creators. All plans are undated.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Private practice, domestic work and competitions

15 jobs with 38 plans from private practice, domestic work and competitions before Birrell started working as the University Architect at the University of Queensland. Drawings:
[Item 1] 'Brick Veneer Residence for Mr. J. P. Birrell'; Perspective and Floor plan; on Pascoe Vale Road ; ink line drawing with colour on paper ; undated ; 41 x 37 cm (previously numbered A6.01).
[Item 2] 'Brick Veneer Residence at Pascoe Vale West for Mr & Mrs J.P. Birrell 43 Greville St. Essendon' ; Elevations, Sections, Block plan, Plan ; ink line drawing with colour on paper, undated ; 26 x 48 cm (previously numbered A6.02).
[Item 3] 'Brick Veneer Residence at Pascoe Vale West for Mr & Mrs. J.P. Birrell 43 Greville St. Essendon' ; Blueprint with Elevations, Sections, Block plan, Plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated; 26 x 48 cm (previously numbered A6.03).
[Item 4] 'Residence for Mr J.P. Birrell at 23 Pascoe Vale Road, Pascoe Vales' ; Working drawing with Elevations, Sections, Block plan, Plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; 2 Nov 1949 ; 28 x 45 cm (previously numbered A6.04).
[Item 5] 'Residence for Mr. J. Blackie' ; Perspective and Floor plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; 1950 ; 33 x 51 cm (previously numbered A6.05).
[Item 6] 'Residence at Moreland for Mr. J. Blackie, 68 Rathmines Street, Fairfield' ; Elevations, Sections, Block plan, Ground plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated ; pencil annotations and stamp of Coburg City Council on back of plan ; 30 x 51 cm (previously numbered A6.06).
[Item 7] 'Brick veneer residence Oliver's Hill, Frankston, Victoria for Mr & Mrs C. Lycett' ; working drawing with Elevations, Sections, Block plan, Ground floor plan, 1st floor plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; Sep 1951 ; 37 x 58 cm (previously numbered A6.07).
[Item 8] 'House at Warrandyte' ; Perspectives ; ink line drawing with colour on paper ; 1951 ; 54 x 41 cm (previously numbered A6.08).
[Item 9] 'House at Warrandyte' ; Elevation, Location plan, Site selection, Plan ; ink line drawing with colour on paper ; Dec 1951 ; 54 x 41 cm (previously numbered A6.09).
[Item 10] 'House at Keilor East, Victoria for Mr Bryan A. Clemsen' ; Perspective ; ink line drawing on tracing paper ; Apr 1952? ; 30 x 40 cm (previously numbered A6.10).
[Item 11] 'Residence for Mr & Mrs S. Rowe at Rosanna, Vic.'; Perspective, Floor plan ; ink line drawing on tracing paper ; Oct 1955 ; 29 x 58 cm (previously numbered A6.11).
[Item 12] 'Civic Centre Canberra Development Scheme 1956' ; ink line drawing on paper ; 1956 ; 66 x 89 cm (previously numbered A6.12).
[Item 13] 'Farm Residence Mt Gravatt' ; Floor plan and Elevation ; ink line drawing on paper ; 1957 ; 46 x 50 cm (previously numbered A6.13).
[Items 14-18] 'Industrial Administration and Research Centre : The Robert and Ada Haddon Travelling Scholarship of the R.V.E.A. : "Cold"' ; Set of 4 sheets : Sheet 1, Sheet 2A, Sheet 2B ,Sheet 3 and Sheet 4 ; ink line drawings on paper ; 1958 ; 61 x 91 cm (previously numbered A6.14-A6.18).
[Item 19] 'The Robert & Ada Haddon Scholarship 'Cold' ; Site plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; 1958 ; 50 x 68 cm (previously numbered A6.19)
[Item 20] 'Bachelor house for H. Gallagher, Esq., at Woodfield Road, Kenmore' ; Working drawing ; blueprint ; Sep 1960 ; 50 x 73 cm (previously numbered A6.20)
[Item 21] 'Residence at Kenmore for H. Gallagher, Lot 42 Sunrise Hills Estate' ; Details ; blueprint ; 6 Sep 1960 ; 50 x 73 cm (previously numbered A6.21)
[Item 22] 'Residence Mr. & Mrs. J P Birrell' ; Elevations, Sections, Foundation plan, Ground floor plan, Site plan, Details ; ink line drawing on paper ; 1961 ; 49 x 76 cm (previously numbered A6.22).
[Items 23-24] 'Brick Residence Mr & Mrs S Rowe at Rosanna, Victoria' ; [Item 23] is a Working Drawing and [Item 24] is for Details ; ink line drawings on tracing paper ; undated ; approx. 25 x 56 cm (previously numbered A6.23 and A6.24).
[Items 25-29] 'Residence for Mr & Mrs J P Birrell, at 12th Ave., St Lucia' ; ink line drawings on tracing paper ; undated ; 73 x 106 cm (previously numbered A6.25-A6.29).
[Items 30-38] 'New State Hospital DOHA' ; Sheet numbers 1, 2, 2A, 3, 3A, 6-9 ; ink line drawings on paper ; undated ; 107 x 72 cm (previously numbered A6.30-A6.37, one unnumbered).

Birrell, James, 1928-

New Industrial Centre at University of Queensland St. Lucia.

Contains 22 plans for the Contract drawing, New Industrial Centre at University of Queensland St. Lucia. Brisbane for the Co-Ordinator General's Dept, (Oct 1963), and includes: site and drainage plan, floor plans, roof plan, elevations, concrete details, steel details, furniture details, and the Gardener's Shed (Nov 1963). The drawings were done by James P. Birrell in association with Peter D. Heathwood. The plans for the industrial centre included the Maintenance shops, printery, amenities and transport building. It is located on the corner of Services Road and Hood Street. The Gardener's Shed is located on the other side of Hood Street. Demolished in November 2021.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Job U Goondiwindi Clinical Centre, University of Queensland

13 plans for the Goondiwindi Clinical Centre. The Pastoral Veterinary Centre of the Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, University of Queensland, at Goondiwindi opened in 1965 and closed 31 December 2011. Plans comprise:
[Item1] Job no. U Working drawings for the Pastoral Clinical Centre Goondiwindi; 1 volume of 8 plans stapled together; the first seven drawings are for Job no. U with sheets numbered sequentially from 6 to 12; dated Oct and Nov 1964; the final plan is from Consulting engineers Dardno and Davies, job/drawing number 2-629B; Oct 1964.
[Item 2] Job no. U/14 Veterinary Pastoral Centre at Goondiwindi for the Department of Clinical Studies - First laboratory block; 10 Dec 1965.
[Item 3] Drawing no. 1041 University of Queensland Pastoral Clinical Centre Goondiwindi Electrical installation, contractor is H. Platt & Associates (Consulting Engineering), dated 6 Nov 1964.
[Item 4] Drawing no. AB6033/B1 University of Queensland Qld Pastoral Clinical Centre - G'Windi. Air conditioning system, contractor is Andrew Barton & Co. Pty Ltd, dated 2 Jun 1965.
[Items 5-6] Drawings by Cardno and Davies (Consulting engineers) for the Goondiwindi Clinical Centre, dated 29 Oct 1964.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Job A41 Boatshed, University of Queensland

The Boat Club of the University of Queensland was established in 1911. Referred to as a shed in the working drawings, Birrell designed a simple building to function as an amenities building for The Boat Club. These plans were designed for submission to the Australian Universities Commission in 1965. It is located between Sir William Macgregor Drive and the Brisbane River. It is now called the Eric Freeman Boathouse. Eric Freeman, attained a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Queensland and was a valued member of the Varsity Eight (rowing) from 1921 to 1924. This file includes:
[Item 1] Boat garage sketch plan (May 1964).
[Item 2] Portal frame diagram (29 Feb 1966).
[Item 3] Job no. A41 Boat Shed Working Drawings; 8 architectural drawings; stapled together; numbered sequentially A41/1 to A41/7, with A41/5A; dated Nov 1965; drawn by J. Kershaw; University Architect is J.P. Birrell.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Job A2 Main Library alterations, University of Queensland

Main Library was part of the Great Court buildings designed by Hennessy and Hennessy in 1935-1936. It consisted of two floors with a glass ceiling in the light well in the centre. Main Building was designed to be extended with an additional three floors, with high ceilings and a large light well in the centre. When the Library had insufficient space for students and books it was decided to go ahead with the extension of three more floors, as specified by Hennessy and Hennessy. Birrell proposed five additional floors instead of the three, the installation of passenger lifts, fluorescent lighting, and air-conditioning. Birrell was responsible for the internal arrangement and finishes. This file comprises 15 plans for alterations and additions to Main Library. Includes: sketch of lower ground floor (now Level 1), working drawings for 1st to 5th floors (now Level 3 to Level 7), stair details and compactus shelving.

Main Library was later known as Undergraduate Library; with the construction of Central Library in 1971 its name was changed to Duhig Building; and later, around 2000, to Duhig Tower.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Job A1 Renovations to Main Building, University of Queensland

10 plans, ink line drawings on tracing paper, for renovations to Main Building (now known as Forgan Smith Building). Stage 1 comprises 5 drawings for the Law and the Thomas Thatcher Memorial Libraries with drawing numbers A1/54 to A1/58, dated Aug to Sep 1965. The Thatcher Library, established in 1948, provided services for distance education and closed in 1993. Stage 2 comprises 3 drawings for the area between the Library and Arts entrance with drawing numbers A1/59 to A1/61. There is a plan for the Language laboratory which has no job number or details in title block. The final plan is Job A1/32 Proposed mezzanine floor to printery (Library basement): Architectural plan, ink line drawing on tracing paper, 38 x 70 cm; title block has University Architect J.P. Birrell; Job/drawing number A1/32; no date.

The Shapcott press was on the lower ground floor of Main Library. During the extension to Main Library there was discussion that the printery could be housed on the bottom floor of the Main Building. This last plan seems to reflect that idea. When Main Library was extended the Printery was moved to the Industrial Centre Building, located on the corner of Services Road and Hood Street.

Birrell, James, 1928-

Geology Annexe, Chemistry Annexe and Western Arts Building [Unbuilt]

The Geology Annex, the Chemistry Annexe and the Western Arts Building were part of a master planning concept. They shared the structural and construction concept developed by Birrell and Antony Tod (structural engineer). None of the proposals were built.

Birrell, James, 1928-

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