The Western Arts Building was designed to be geometrically related to the existing surrounding buildings forming a visual relation across Mill Road. It was to sit back from the western end of Main Building (Forgan Smith), linked by a cloister. The pilot plan for the proposed Western Arts Building designed by Birrell was submitted to the Australian Universities Commission (A.U.C.) in 1965 and rejected. Birrell's design was a break from the original design by Hennessy and Hennessy who were eventually commissioned as architects for the Western Arts building (Mitchie Building) on 16 March 1967.

This file consists of 35 plans for proposed New Western Arts building on the St. Lucia campus. Includes: site plans and presentation sketches for floor plans and perspectives.

This file comprises architectural drawings that have not been created by James Birrell, as either University Architect or in private practice for the J.D. Story Administration Building.

Antony Tod, Consulting Structural Engineer: [Item 1] Preliminary sketches showing proposed method of precasting, line drawing on paper, undated, previously numbered A10.230).

R. J. McWilliam and Partners, Consulting Structural Engineers: [Item 2] Erection procedure - precast wall units, drawing number 64181/1, 15 May 1964, previously numbered A10.220 ; [Item 3] Windows, creator undetermined, undated, no drawing number, previously numbered A10.223.

Wunderluich Limited: [Item 4] Extentions : Units type 56, drawing number BM4260, 7 Oct 1965, previously numbered A10.226 ; [Item 5] Extentions : Units type 88, drawing number BM4261, 7 Oct 1965, previously numbered A10.227 ; [Item 6] Details of fixings per unit, drawing number BM4285, 1 Nov 1965, previously numbered A10.228.

P.R. Scott & Associates, Consulting Engineers, Job no. 1153 Electrical services power & layouts, ink line drawing on paper: [Item 7] Lower ground floor, drawing number 1153/1, undated, previousy number A10.233 ; [Item 8] Third floor, drawing number 1153/6, 7 Dec 1965, previousy number A10.234 ; [Item 9] Fourth floor, drawing number 1153/7, 7 Dec 1965, previousy number A10.235 ; [Item 10] Ground floor, drawing number 1153/9, 3 Nov 1965, previousy number A10.236 ; [Item 11] First floor, drawing number 1153/10, 3 Nov 1965, previousy number A10.237 ; [Item 12] Second floor, drawing number 1153/11, 3 Nov 1965, previousy number A10.238 ; [Item 13] Third floor, drawing number 1153/12, 4 Nov 1965, previousy number A10.239 ; [Item 14] Fourth floor, drawing number 1153/13, 4 Nov 1965, previousy number A10.240 ; [Item 15] Fifth floor, drawing number 1153/14, 4 Nov 1965, previousy number A10.241 ; [Item 16] On volume, 27 plans , with 'Office copy' written on first plan, for: Job no. 1091 J.D. Story Administration Block Lift (Drawing no.s 1091/1 and 1091/2) ; Job no. 1092 J.D. Story Administration Block Elec. Services (drawing no.s 1092/1 to 1092/14, 1092/17 to 1092/23 ; Job no. 1093 J.D. Story Administration Air conditioning, (drawing numbers 1093/1 to 1093/4). Plans for this volume previously numbered A10.107 to A10.133.

7 plans for electrical specifications, mostly placement of general purpose outlets for J.D. Story Administration Building, unidentified creator, undated, no title block, annotations: [item 17] J.D. Story Administration, ink line drawing on tracing paper (previously numbered A10.183) ; [Item 18] Lower ground floor, ink line drawing on paper, (previously numbered A10.184) ; [Item 19] Ground floor, ink line drawing on paper, (previously numbered A10.184 [duplicated number]) ; [Item 20] First floor, ink line drawing on paper, (previously unnumbered) ; [Item 21] Second floor, ink line drawing on paper, (previously numbered A10.186) ; [Item 22] Third floor, ink line drawing on paper, (previously unnumbered) ; and [Item 23] Fourth floor, ink line drawing on paper, (previously numbered A10.188).

Wunderluich Limited: [Item 24] Proposed Wunderlich Double Glazed Venetian Blind Window for J.D. Storey Building - St. Lucia, 5 leaves and 1 plan in blue folder,undated ; [Item 25] Proposed Wunderlich Double Glazed Venetian Blind Window for J.D. Storey Building - St. Lucia, 5 leaves and 1 plan in yellow folder, 13 Jul 1964.

The proposed Chemistry Annex was to be situated along Circular Drive (now Staff House Road) sitting in a small vacant piece of land adjacent to two wings of the Chemistry building, beside the bookshop, about where the current Global Change Institute sits. These three plans are of the existing chemistry building and are dated, 3rd, 5th and 7th October 1964.

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)

The construction of Stage 1 commenced on 26 June 1964 and was completed in May 1965. This file comprises plans from contractors: [Items 1-3] Amelco American Elumin Co.; Series 802 windows for Union College ; set of 3 drawings, numbered A-2308-1 to A-2308-3; dated 17 Aug 1964 (previously numbered A15.78-80);
[Items 4-7] J. Connolly (Qld) Pty Ltd; Gearing details; set of 4 drawings, numbered B.973/1-B.973/4; dated Nov. 1964 (previously numbered A15.81-84).

The construction of Stage 1 commenced on 26 June 1964 and was completed in May 1965. This file comprises plans with the title The working drawings of Union College in title block, J.P. Birrell as University Architect (on all drawings) and D.G. Cheesman as Assistant Architect (on most drawings) . All, except one, are ink line drawings on tracing paper and most are dated May 1964. Drawings:
[Item 1] 'Site plan', number i/10B (previously numbered A15.24) ;
[Item 2] 'Foundations plan', number i/11 (previously numbered A15.25) ;
[Item 3] 'Ground floor plan', number i/12 (previously numbered A15.26) ;
[Item 4] 'Upper floor plan', number i/13A (previously numbered A15.27) ;
[Item 5] 'Roof plan', number i/14 (previously numbered A15.28) ;
[Item 6] 'Elevations', number i/15 (previously numbered A15.29) ;
[Item 7] '1/2" section', number i/16 (previously numbered A15.30) ;
[Item 8] 'Elevations', number i/17 (previously numbered A15.31) ;
[Item 9] 'Elevations', number i/18 (previously numbered A15.32) ;
[Item 10] 'Bedroom details', number i/19 (previously numbered A15.33) ;
[Item 11] 'Brickwork', number i/20 (previously numbered A15.34) ;
[Item 12] '1/2' section', number i/21 (previously numbered A15.35) ;
[Item 13] 'Doors', number i/22 (previously numbered A15.36) ;
[Item 14] 'Doors', number i/22, pencil annotations (previously numbered A15.37) ;
[Item 15] 'Toilet details', number i/24A, (previously numbered A15.38) ;
[Item 16] 'Toilet details', number i/25A, (previously numbered A15.39) ;
[Item 17] 'Plumbing details', number i/26, (previously numbered A15.40) ;
[Item 18] 'Kitchen details', number i/27, (previously numbered A15.41) ;
[Item 19] 'Window details', pencil line drawing on tracing paper, number i/28, June 1964 (previously numbered A15.42) ; and
[Item 20] 'Soil pipe amendment', number i/29, July 1964 (previously numbered A15.43).

Thirteen plans with the title Sketch plan of Union College in title block and J.P. Birrell as University Architect. All except one are dated October 1963. The last plan has the date December 1964. Comprises:
[Item 1] 'Typical section thru stairwell', ink line drawing on tracing paper, job/drawing number i/3 (previously numbered A15.11) ;
[Item 2] 'Typical section thru stairwell', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/3 (previously numbered A15.12) ;
[Item 3] 'Ground floor plan and elevations', ink line drawing on tracing paper with pencil annotations, job/drawing number i/4 (previously numbered A15.13) ;
[Item 4] 'Ground floor plan and elevations', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/4 (previously numbered A15.14) ;
[Item 5] 'Typical residential floor plan and elevation', ink line drawing on tracing paper, job/drawing number i/5 (previously numbered A15.15) ;
[Item 6] 'Typical residential floor plan and elevation', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/5 (previously numbered A15.16) ;
[Item 7] 'Roof plan and elevation', ink line drawing on tracing paper, job/drawing number i/6 (previously numbered A15.17) ;
[Item 8] 'Roof plan and elevation', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/6 (previously numbered A15.18) ;
[Item 9] 'Perspectives from outside', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/7 (previously numbered A15.19) ;
[Item 10] 'Perspectives from outside', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/7 (previously numbered A15.20) ;
[Item 11] 'Perspectives of inside', ink line drawing on tracing paper, job/drawing number i/8 (previously numbered A15.21) ;
[Item 12] 'Perspectives of inside', ink line drawing with colour on paper, job/drawing number i/8 (previously numbered A15.22) ; and
[Item 13] 'Perspectives for common and dining rooms', ink line drawing on tracing paper, job/drawing number i/9 (previously numbered A15.23).

The construction of Stage 1 commenced on 26 June 1964 and was completed in May 1965. This file comprises plans with the varying titles in title block, and J.P. Birrell as University Architect. All are ink line drawings on tracing paper and most are dated between September and February 1965. Drawings:
[Item 1] 'Union College toilet amendments', number i/30, Sep 1964 (previously numbered A15.44) ;
[Item 2] 'Detail of handrail to balustrade wall etc Union College', number i/31A, 14 Sep 1964 (previously numbered A15.45) ;
[Item 3] 'Foundation stone - Union College', number i/32, Oct 1964 (previously numbered A15.46) ;
[Item 4] 'Grease trap - Union College', number i/33A, 17 Sep 1964 (previously numbered A15.47) ;
[Item 5] 'Union College - detail of M.S. C.', number i/34, Dec 1964 (previously numbered A15.48) ;
[Item 6] 'Amended lighting layout to dining room - Union College', number i/35, Dec 1964 (previously numbered A15.49) ;
[Item 7] 'Union College - paving details', number i/36, Feb 1965 (previously numbered A15.50) ;
[Item 8] 'Union College - stair at roof level', number i/37, Feb 1965 (previously numbered A15.50A) ;
[Item 9] 'Union College - landscaping', number i/41, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A15.51 ) ; and
[Item 10] 'Union College - service road', number i/42, undated (previously numbered A15.52).

There is an additional drawing, without a title block or job/drawing number:
[Item 11] 'Revised window details bed rooms Union College', 23 Aug 1964 (previously numbered A15.53).

The construction of Stage II commenced in May 1965 and was presumably completed before the start of first term in 1966. There are 11 drawings in this file.

There are nine working drawings that form a set, all drawings are ink line drawings on tracing paper and all but one have the date of March 1966 and are drawn by B. Goodsir. These nine drawings are:
[Item 1] 'Facilities block : floor and roof plans', sheet no. 2 (previously numbered A15.87);
[Item 2] 'Facilities block : elevations sections and window details', sheet no. 3 (previously numbered A15.88);
[Item 3] 'Fireplace and flue details', sheet no. 5 (previously numbered A15.89);
[Item 4] Warden's residence : plans, elevations and sections', sheet no. 6 (previously numbered A15.90);
[Item 5] Warden's residence : sections', sheet no. 7 (previously numbered A15.91);
[Item 6] Warden's residence : cupboard details ; Facilities block ; female change room', sheet no. 8 (previously numbered A15.92);
[Item 7] Warden's residence door details', sheet no. 9 (previously numbered A15.93);
[Item 8] Warden's residence: windows ; Existing dormitory block : stair glazing', sheet no. 10 (previously numbered A15.94); and
[Item 9] 'Details of driveway and carpark', sheet no. 11, dated 20 April 1966 (previously numbered A15.95).

Two additional drawings:
[Item 10] 1 drawing titled 'Union College Stage 2 : Boundary wall and paths', no job number, no date (previously numbered A15.86);
[Item 11] 1 drawing with University of Queensland title block that has J.P. Birrell as University Architect, that relates to Stage 2 construction titled 'View of Warden's residence from Upland Road', no job number, no date (previously numbered A15.85)

The construction of Stage 1 commenced on 26 June 1964 and was completed in May 1965. This file comprises plans from contractors: [Items 1-2] Job no. 1171 Union College Extentions by P.R. Scott & Associates (Consulting Mechanical & Electrical Engineers), job/drawing number 1171/1 (previously numbered A15.104) and 1171/2 (previously numbered A15.105).