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.

Architectural drawing, ink line drawing on tracing paper for new tutors flat to Stage 1 of Union College, dated 11 Mar 1975. This would be an addition to stage one of the College, not part of the initial Stage 1 construction. Unsure if this was built.

Union College was built in five stages from June 1964 to March 1974. It consists of three buildings and two landscaped courtyards. It was built in five separately budgeted stages. Each stage included landscaping and an increase in facilities to common areas of the precious stages. The client for the construction was the Union College Council. The site, suggested by Birrell, was a narrow strip of vacant land on the south western corner of the St. Lucia campus bordered by Upland Road, Sir William Macgregor Drive and Oval No. 1. The site had many well established trees and Birrell's design retained almost all of them. There are 6 volumes of architectural drawings, 175 individual drawings making a total of 242 drawings for the Union College. Stage 1 was by James Birrell as University Architect and Stages 2-5 were by James Birrell & Partners.

Additional architectural drawings for various stages of Union College:
[Items 1-4] Job no. D14/F1 to D14/F4; Aug, Oct, Nov 1972; D14/F3 has previous number A15.99 which is a duplicate number).
[Item 5] Signboard detail.
[Items 6-8] B22A/1 to B22A/3; (previously numbered A15.152-154).
[Items 9-11] 'Proposed demountable clothes line for Union College (previously numbered A15.155-157).
[Item 12] 'Union College - New benches'; (previously numbered A15.159).
Item 13] 'Amendment to bathroom in vice wardens flat at Union College'; (previously numbered A15.161).
[Items 14-15] 'Garages for Union College', 2 May 1969, (previously numbered A15.162-163).
Item 16] 'Site and floor plan', 14 Nov 1973, (no prior numbering).
[Item 17] Drawing no. 3475-1 'Union College - squash courts', Aug 1970, (no prior numbering).
[Item 18] 'Proposed flats in lieu of existing bedrooms at Union College, James Birrell (Teneriffe), 18 Oct 1974, (no prior numbering).

The construction of Stage 5 commenced in Jan 1973 and was completed Mar 1974. This file has the sketch plans for stage five of Union College. From the title block creator is James Birrell & Partners (Architects and Town Planners). All are ink line drawings on tracing paper. The drawings are:
[Item 1] 'Sketch plan floor levels r.l. 74'0" & r.l. 83'0"', no job/sheet number, Sep 1972 (previously numbered A15.223).
[Item 2] 'Sketch plan floor levels r.l. 92'0"', no job/sheet number, Sep 1972 (previously numbered A15.224).
[Item 3] 'Sketch plan floor levels r.l. 74'0" & r.l. 83'0"', no job/sheet number, Mar 1973 (previously numbered A15.225).
[Item 4] 'Sketch plan floor levels r.l. 92'0"', no job/sheet number, Mar 1973 (previously numbered A15.226).

The construction of Stage V commenced in Jan 1973 and was completed in Mar 1974. This volume comprises 8 drawings. It is held together metal staples, with pages coming loose. From title block creators are James Birrell & Partners (Architect) and Antony Tod & Partners (Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers). All drawings are dated Oct 1972. Drawings have the drawing no. number 4102, followed by a running sheet number from 1A to 8.

The construction of Stage 5 commenced in Jan 1973 and was completed Mar 1974. This file has the working drawings for Job no. D14. From the title block creator is James Birrell & Partners (Architects and Town Planners). All are ink line drawings on tracing paper. The drawings are:
[Item 1] 'Site plan', Job/sheet number D14/1, Nov 1972 (previously numbered A15.227).
[Item 2] 'Site works', Job/sheet number D14/2, Oct 1972 (previously numbered A15.228).
[Item 3] 'Elevations', Job/sheet number D14/4, Sep 1972 (previously numbered A15.229).
[Item 4] 'Brickwork', Job/sheet number D14/5, 1972? (previously numbered A15.230).
[Item 5] 'Stair details', Job/sheet number D14/6, Oct 1972 (previously numbered A15.231).
[Item 6] 'Room details', Job/sheet number D14/7, Nov 1972 (previously numbered A15.232).
[Item 7] 'Amendments to stage four', Job/sheet number D14/7A, Nov 1972 (previously numbered A15.233).
[Item 8] 'Details', Job/sheet number D14/8, Nov 1972 (previously numbered A15.234).
[Item 9] 'Door & window details', Job/sheet number D14/9, Nov 1972 (previously numbered A15.235).
[Item 10] 'Drainage layout', Job/sheet number D14/10, Oct 1972 (previously numbered A15.236).
[Item 11] 'Roof & drainage plan', Job/sheet number D14/11, Oct 1972 (previously numbered A15.237).

Located between the Great Court buildings and Circular Drive (now Staff House Road), the Bookshop was built in 1957. In September 1963 Birrell, as University Architect, design a small internal refit of which there is one drawing in this subseries: Job/Sheet no. A4/33. Further additions and alterations to the Bookshop were designed by James Birrell and Partners in 1970-1972 ( Job no. B97 and unnumbered drawings), and these make up the bulk of the drawings in this subseries as well as some done in collaboration with contractors.

The construction of Stage 5 commenced in Jan 1973 and was completed Mar 1974. This file has proposed, preliminary and sketch plans for stage five of Union College. Two have the job no. B66 (for Stage 4) but appear to be plans for work on stage 4 to be completed during stage 5. From the title block creator is James Birrell & Partners (Architects and Town Planners, Brisbane and Port Moresby). All are ink and pen line drawings on tracing paper. The drawings are:
[Item 1] 'Union College', Job/sheet number B66, 15 Mar 1971 (previously numbered A15.215).
[Item 2] 'Preliminary construction to library', Job/sheet number B66, 22 Apr 1971 (previously numbered A15.216).
[Item 3] 'Proposed bookcase for Union College library, St. Lucia', no Job/sheet number, Mar 1972 (previously numbered A15.217).
[Item 4] 'Proposed bookcase for Union College library, St. Lucia', no Job/sheet number, Mar 1972 (previously numbered A15.218).
[Item 5] 'Memorial book cabinet, proposed bookshelves for Union College', with pencil annotations and title, no Job/sheet number, undated (previously numbered A15.218A).
[Item 6] 'Proposed bookshelves for Union College library, St. Lucia', no Job/sheet number, Mar 1972 (previously numbered A15.219).
[Item 7] 'Sketch plans for Union College : conversion of no. 2 rooms to a single person flat', no Job/sheet number, 27 Aug 1971 (previously numbered A15.220).
[Item 8] 'Proposed conversion of squash court to student flats at Union College, St. Lucia', no Job/sheet number, Mar 1972 (previously numbered A15.221).
[Item 9] 'Plan showing layout of 2 flats for lower level', no Job/sheet number, undated (previously numbered A15.222).

The construction of Stage 5 commenced in Jan 1973 and was completed Mar 1974. This file comprises plans from contractors. The drawings are:
[Item 1] 'Window frames'; Contractor is Wunderlick Ltd; Job/sheet numberBA.052, Nov 1970? (no prior number).
[Item 2] 'Aluminium stay arms and M.S. fixing straps for Elumin type window frames'; Contractor is Wunderlick Ltd; Job/sheet numberBA.053, 30Nov 1970 (no prior number).
[Items 3-7] Electrical details; Contractor is P.R. Scott & Associates; Job/sheet numbers 341/E1 to 341/E5, Nov 1972 (no prior numbers).
[Item 8] Electrical details; 7 plans stapled together as one volume; Contractor is P.R. Scott & Associates; Job/sheet numbers 341/M1 to 341/M2, 341/E1 to 341/E5, Oct to Nov 1972 (no prior numbers).