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.

On 11 November 1958, Harrison Bryan, University Librarian and Honorary Secretary of the Staff Association communicated to the Registrar of the intention to have Staff House, similar to what existed at other Australian Universities. After Birrell commenced work as the University Architect in July 1961, he produced several designs of varying budgets. However site selection, funding, its low priority and frequent delays in construction did not see the building completed until after Birrell resigned as University Architect in March 1966. The building was completed by his replacement, Mr. K.S. Crump. On 20th April 1966 the club was formally invited to occupy the Staff House. Due to the volume of work done by Birrell, he was offered Honorary Life Membership and the Common Room was renamed the James Birrell Room.
There are five drawings with the Job no. A24, dated 1964. Three drawings are by James Birrell and Partners from 1966, 1971 and 1974. Some drawings have no title block information. Most drawings are by other contractors.

One volume of 51 plans for the Job A37 J.D. Story Administration Building The University of Queensland. Previously held together with three metal holders Drawings are numbered 3 to 41A. Some drawings have a second version. Drawings 1, 2, 10, 21 and 41 are missing. On the cover there are titles for 40 drawings, however there is a drawing number 41A that appears to belong to this volume. Drawings date from Mar to Jun1964. From cover page: University Architect, J. P. Birrell; Assistant Architect L. Kulley. Consultants: Antony Tod, Structural Engineer; P. R. Scott & Associates, Mechanical Engineers; and Herbert Mitchell & Son, Quantity Surveyors.

One volume of plans for the Job A37 J.D. Story Administration Building The University of Queensland and 6 architectural drawings.

One sketch plan, ink line drawing on tracing paper, for Job A 37 Propsed table for senate room - J. D. Story Admin. Bldg. Drawing dated 10 Dec 1964. University Architect, J. P. Birrell. Drawings of the Senate Room on the fifth floor are from after the initial submission to the Australian Universities Commission (A.U.C.) was rejected. The A.U.C. were not in favour of the Senate House.

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.

Client: The Department of the Coordinator General of Public Works. Architects: Hayes & Scott. Drawing no. 101-105, Nov 1967 to Jan 1968.

Client: Queensland. Department of Co-Ordinator General of Public Works. Most drawings have a print copy on paper. Some drawings have 2-3 versions (A, B, C).

Client: Queensland. Department of Co-Ordinator General of Public Works. Drawings numbers: 19-26, drawn by RAC, Dec 1968-Mar 1969.

Seventeen drawings for the Achitecture Music & Planning Building (now the Sir Zelman Cowen Building), drawn in 1973, for Job no. 335 of Nutter Stevenson & Partners. All signed off by the Office of the University Architect. Includes:
Drawing no. 2, Issue B, Site plan, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 4, Issue I, Level 3, drawn by AHG, Jan 1973. --
Drawing no. 5, Issue D, Level 4, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 6, Issue F, Level 5, drawn by AHG, Jan 1973. --
Drawing no. 7, Issue B, Roof & plant room plans, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 8, Issue B, North & East elevations, drawn by [AHG], Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 9, Issue C, South & West elevations, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 10, Issue A, Section C & W. Elevation, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 11, Issue C, Sections 'A' & 'B', drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 14, Issue A, Detail sections, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 15, Issue B, Detail sections, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 16, Issue A, Detail sections, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 17, Issue A, Large scale details, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 18, Issue B, Miscellaneous details, drawn by DAN, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 19, Issue C, Room 434 details, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 20, Issue C, Room 434 details, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 25, Issue A, Stair 3 details, drawn by DB, Jun.