University Institution, Mount Gravatt drawings include: Land slope diagram (1966) ; Landscape elements ; Adjoining land uses and main approaches ; Traffic scheme ; Main service routes ; Geological structure (1966) ; Topographical sections ; Land use pattern ; Immediate development (1966) ; Aerial photograph of site for second University Institution ; Site plan ; Immediate development plan (1966) ; Adjoining land uses and main approaches (colour) ; Landscape elements ; Main service routes ; Topographical sections ; Contour map ; Proposed Mt. Gravatt University and Technical College sites / prepared by the Topographic Branch, Survey Office, Brisbane (1965).

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).

Correspondence (incoming and outgoing) related to the Master Plan for Townsville University (known as James Cook University) and for the First Hall of Residence, University College of Townsville, University of Queensland. These designs began when James Birrell was University Architect for the University of Queensland and continued when he went into private practice as James Birrell and Partners. The bulk of the correspondence is from the firm James Birrell and Partners. There are eight folders in this file spanning years 1962 to 1968.

6 architectural drawings for the University College of Townsville Library - Stage 1; ink line drawings on tracing paper; dated 22 June 1966; title block has client as the University of Queensland and James Birrell as University Architect; above title block is the title of the job and James Birrell and Partners (Architects and Town Planners, Fortitude Valley).

Correspondence relating to the construction of the Union College, University of Queensland St Lucia, dated from 30 Jun 1964 to 27 Mar 1968.

Correspondence relating to the construction of the Union College, University of Queensland St Lucia, dated from 2 Oct 1961 to 27 April 1965.

James Birrell was given the brief by the Union College Council to design new accommodation for students. This file has pilot plans and sketches for the College. Drawings:
[Item 1] Job I Union College - St. Lucia - Pilot plan only, ink line drawing on tracing paper, topographical lines drawn in red pen, drawing number I/1, title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect, July 1963 (previously numbered A15.01) ;
[Item 2] Job I Union College - St. Lucia - Pilot plan only, ink line drawing on paper, with pencil annotations, drawing number I/1, title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect, July 1963 (previously numbered A15.02) ;
[Item 3] Job I Union College - Uplands Road St. Lucia - Thumb-nail perspective pilot planning scheme, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number I/2, title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect, July 1963 (previously numbered A15.03) ;
[Items 4 - 9] Sketch plans, ink and pencil line drawings on tracing paper, no title block, no job/drawing number (previously numbered A15.04 to A15.05 and A15.07 to A15.10. A15.06 missing)

Townsville University (known as James Cook University) drawings include: Preliminary observation on land ; Townsville University College, Permanent Campus (1963) ; Townsville University College Phases 1 and 2 (1964) ; Preliminary sketch, Ross river site (1964) ; Location plan showing growth of Townsville ; Master plan ; Immediate development plan 1964-1966 ; Topographical sections ; Traffic scheme ; Access and service layout ; Landscape elements ; Townsville University ; Untitled plan ; Siting of halls of residence (1965) ; Immediate development Plan 1967-69 ; L.A. 1-7 drawings by Landscape architect A. Wilson.

Third floor level of the J. D. Story Administration Building, line drawing in ink on tracing paper, undated. Same as colour drawing in bound presentation volume.

Title block has the title J.D. Story Administration Building, University of Queensland, and University Architect J.P. Birrell. Ink line drawing on tracing paper, with pencil annotations. There are no job or drawing numbers. Dated May 1963.