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.

The construction of Stage 3 commenced in July 1967 and was completed July 1968. There are 13 drawings with the Job no. B22; all are ink line drawings on tracing paper; almost all are dated July 1967. From the title block creators are: James Birrell & Partners (Architects and Town Planners); and the consultants are Antony Tod & Partners (Structural Engineer) and P.R. Scott & Associates (Electrical and Mechanical Engineer).

The drawings are:
[Item 1] ' Drainage plan', sheet no. 2, dated Aug 1967 (previously numbered A15.111) ;
[Item 2] ' Ground works : ground, first and second floor plans', sheet no. 3 (previously numbered A15.112) ;
[Item 3] 'Third and roof plans', sheet no. 4 (previously numbered A15.113) ;
[Item 4] 'Elevations and sections', sheet no. 5 (previously numbered A15.114) ;
[Item 5] 'Sections and elevations', sheet no. 6 (previously numbered A15.115) ;
[Item 6] '1/2" section', sheet no. 7 (previously numbered A15.116) ;
[Item 7] 'Male dormitory toilets, bathroom and tutor's room details', sheet no. 10 (previously numbered A15.117) ;
[Item 8] 'Bathroom, tutor's room, powder room and toilet details', sheet no. 11 (previously numbered A15.118) ;
[Item 9] 'Vice-warden's flat details', sheet no. 12 (previously numbered A15.119) ;
[Item 10] 'Windows', sheet no. 14 (previously numbered A15.120) ;
[Item 11] 'Facilities block, Sections', sheet no. 15, undated (previously numbered A15.121) ;
[Item 12] 'Miscellaneous details', sheet no. 16 (previously numbered A15.122) ; and
[Item 13] 'Notice board and letter rack', sheet no. 17, 51 x 76 cm (previously numbered A15.123) .

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).

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 Agriculture and Entomology Building was built in three stages. This file comprises four drawings for Stage 2 three of which have the job number of B7.A. There are three working drawings, which are ink line drawings on tracing paper, from the title block the client is The University of Queensland, St. Lucia for the Co-ordinator General of Public Works, dated 6 Sep 1969; with a running sequential drawing number from 1 to 3; architect is James Birrell and Partners; and are 75 x 101 cm. Working drawings are:

[Item 1] 'Plans', Job/drawing no. B7.A/W1 (previously numbered A16.36);
[Item 2] 'Elevations', Job/drawing no. B7.A/W2 (previously numbered A16.39);
[Item 3] Sections, Elevations, Details, Job/drawing no. B7.A/W3 (previously numbered A16.42).

There is one additional drawing for Stage Two: [Item 4] Plan of Roof and Elevation View, ink line drawing on tracing paper, no formal title block, title is Agriculture and Entonomogy Stage Two, James Birrell and Partners are the architects, 75 x 86 cm, undated (previously numbered A16.83).

The Agriculture and Entomology Building was built in three stages. Contractors often designed their plans in consultation with James Birrell & Parnters and both names may appear on their plans. The most significant contractor in this file is P.R. Scott & Associates: all drawings by P.R. Scott & Associates are ink line drawing on paper; date from 1966 to 1969; only five drawings have the previous numbering system (A16.113-117); Items 1-28, consisting of a total of 57 plans (31 are in two volumes) for P.R. Scott & Associates.

Additional plans: [Items 29-31] Dowsett Procuts (Australia) Pty Ltd (previously numbered A16.110-112); [item 32] Wunderlick Ltd; [Item 33] Unidentified creator (no prior number); and [Item 34] Cover sheet with James Birrell & Partners, Antony Tod & Partners, P.R. Scott & Associates and Herbert A. Mitchell and Son in lower left side corner (no prior number).

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 III commenced in July 1967 and was completed in June 1968. This volume comprises 13 drawings and a general notes page. It was previously held together metal staples. From cover page creators are James Birrell & Partners (Architect) and Antony Tod & Partners (Consulting Structural Engineer). All drawings are dated June 1967. General notes page and all drawings have the drawing no. number 2221, followed by a running sheet number from 1 to 14.