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".

Comprises 16 drawings from Mar to Nov 1973 for Job E9 Biological Marine Research Station, Heron Island. These drawings were undertaken by James Birrell & Partners. Drawings include: working drawings for proposed laboratory block at Heron Island for Roche Products (10 drawings); working drawings for proposed cabins (4) at Heron Island for the University of Queensland (Affiliated with the Great Barrier Reef Committee) (5 drawings); and working drawing for workshop and fuel store.

University of Queensland St. Lucia Proposed Dental School Accommodation, James Birrell and Partners, April 1966: [Item 1] Ink line drawing on tracing paper; [Item 2] Ink line drawing on paper.

Proposed new Dental College building - Turbot St. site : First floor plan, signed by R. R. Stephens, 23 April 1966, ink line drawing on paper.

University of Queensland Proposed extensions to Dental School at Turbot Street Brisbane : Ground floor plan, basement plan, first floor plan, Architect is James Birrell and Partners, 2 May 1966, ink line drawing on tracing paper.

Three plans by James Birrell and Partners for Job no. A37 J.D. Story Administration Building Stage 2: [Item 1] Music library, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 100, May 1966 (previously numbered A10.205); [Item 2] File storage units for fifth floor, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 102, Jun 1966 (previously numbered A10.206); and [Item 3] Set out for proposed notice tag for aluminum windows J.D. Story Building, ink line drawing on tracing paper, no drawing number, 1 Mar 1967 (previously numbered A10.224).

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 construction of Stage II commenced in May 1965 and was presumably completed before the start of first term in 1966. 1 volume of 7 drawings, with cover page, held together metal staples. From cover page creators are James Birrell & Partners (Architect) and Antony Tod (Consulting Structural Engineer). All drawings are dated March 1966. Drawings all have the number 1712, followed by a running sheet number from 1 to 7.

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).