Unbuilt works by James Birrell:
[File 1] Queensland Art Gallery: drawings for Queensland Gallery of Modern Art; undated; 6 plans, 4 board drawings, 2 sketches.
[File 2] Museum of Victoria, Carlton: architectural design competition; undated; 8 plans.
[Item 3] Unidentified building, east and north elevation, undated.
[File 4] Parliament House, Canberra: undated; 16 plans.
[File 5] Parliament House, Darwin: undated; 8 plans.
[File 6] Koki Market Development scheme: undated; 16 plans, 1 aerial photograph in folder.
[Item 7] Original concept for M.S.C. chamber forecourt; undated; 1 plan.
[Item 8] Perspective from Edward St., Brisbane, of proposed building for Development Underwriters Pty Ltd: undated; 1 sketch.
[File 9] Master Plan Kingston Foreshore Development, Canberra, competition of ideas: undated; 4 sketches.
[Item 10] Proposed Commercial Centre, Waigaini, Papua New Guinea: undated; 1 sketch.
[Item 11] Proposed Coral Sea Hotel for steamships Trading Co. at Champion Parade, Port Moresby: 1969; 1 sketch.
[Item 12] Ten cluster patio houses for Centaurie Pty Limited at Drane Street, Clayfield, QLD.: 1970; undated; 1 sketch.
[Item 13] Proposed office building, Boundary St., Spring Hill, Brisbane: 1968 ; 1 plan.
[Item 14] Perspective Kyamba Court Units, Bundilla Lakes, Mooloolaba for Alfred Grant Pty Ltd.: 1972, 1 sketch plan on transparency.
[File 15] Notional scheme Siar Island Resort Hotel: 1972 ; 2 sketches.
[File 16] Proposed residence at Boulder Valley Farm, Upper Brookfield, Brisbane for Neil and Merle Thornton: 1973 ; 2 plans.
[File 17] Proposed Local Government Association building, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: 1975 ; 3 plans.
[Item 18] Papua New Guinea National Computer Centre at Waigani. Perspective from east: 1975 ; 1 sketch.
[Item 19] PNG Banking Corporation. Arawa Branch: 1977 ; 1 sketch.
[Item 20] Proposed branch at Kimbe for Papua New Guinea Banking Corporation: 1977 ; 1 plan.
[File] 21] PNG Parliament House competition: 1978 ; 6 plans.
[File] 22] Sunshine Coast C.O.T.A. Technology complex: 1978 ; 12 plans.

Architectural drawings by James Birrell from his time as a student at Melbourne University, as a fourth year student in 1950 and fifth year in 1951. Drawings from work with the Commonwealth Department of Works in Melbourne (1948-1951, and 1954), Canberra (1952-1953); and Darwin (1954-1955). Drawings of buildings designed by Birrell while employed as an Architect in charge of the drawing office at the Brisbane City Council (1955-1961). Drawings designed by Birrell while employed as the University Architect for the University of Queensland (1 July 1961 to approx. 30 March 1966). Drawings done for buildings which were private commissions (1948-1966). Drawings while practicing in his firm, James Birrell and Partners (1966-1970) as well as drawings for buildings that were not built.

From his book A life in Architecture : Beyond the ugliness, James Birrell notes on pages 71-72 "The University was vested as property of the State Government and came under the control of the Co-Ordinator General of Public Works. The university was thus a tenant of the Co-Ordinator General who had control over all work".

Architectural drawings of residential and commercial buildings, job files, incoming and outgoing correspondence, photographs and research material for his book on Walter Burley Griffin. Includes plans by Scorer and Scorer which Birrell obtained when he purchased the firm in 1966. The architectural drawings in this collection include those from his student days, his time with the Commonwealth Department of Works, the Brisbane City Council, the University of Queensland (as University Architect), and his private practices. Drawings for buildings not constructed are also in this collection.