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 Co-Ordinator General of State Works originally gave the commission for the University of Queensland Agriculture and Entomology Building (known as Hartley Teakle Building) to Fred Scorer of the firm Scorer and Scorer on 17 March 1966. After Fred Scorer's untimely death in 1966, James Birrell purchased the Scorer and Scorer firm as part of setting up his own practice. He resigned as University Architect in late March 1966. The Co-Ordinator General approved Birrell taking over the commission for the Agriculture and Entomology Building. James Birrell and Partners were the architects for the building. The site chosen for the building was to the north-west of the Great Court on the western side of Mill road. The glass houses and veterinary buildings were built. Mayne Hall, now the UQ Art Museum and the Biological Science Library and Refect were not yet built. Front Drive still ran along the front of Main Building (now Forgan Smith).

The Agriculture and Entomology Building was designed to follow the site contours, was a 'c-shaped plan' and was designed to be built in three separate stages. Each stage was designed to be complete within themselves. Stage 1 was completed in February 1969; Stage 2 in May 1970; and Stage 3 in December 1970.

The subseries consists of plans for the Agriculture and Entomology Building, Stages 1-3, on the University of Queensland St. Lucia campus. It contains preliminary drawings by James Birrell as the University Architect and Master plans by Scorer and Scorer. Stage 1 : Job B7. Stage 2 : Job B7A; Stage 3 : Job B7B. Includes: site plan, floor plans, drainage plans, elevations, sections, roof details, site works, sun control details, window details, stair details, furniture details, seminar rooms, teaching rooms, administrative rooms, staff room details, student rooms, door schedules, perspectives, preliminary plans. Engineering plans Job 3092, 3378, 3398. Electrical engineer Job 1217. Mechanical engineer Job 2040.

Thirteen working drawings, previously stapled together, for the completion of stage 2 of the J.D. Story Administration Building, with University of Queensland title block, University Architect J. P. Birrell, Assistant Architect L. Kulley, 47 x 74 cm:
[Item 1] Site plan, drawing number 45, ink line drawing on paper, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.207) ;
[Item 2] Lower ground floor, 'Office copy' written in red ink on lower right hand corner, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 46, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.208) ;
[Item 3] Ground floor, ink line drawing on paper, annotations in green pencil, drawing number 47, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.209) ;
[Item 4] First floor, ink line drawing on paper, pencil annotations, drawing number 48A, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.210) ;
[Item 5] First floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 48B, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.211) ;
[Item 6] Second floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 49A, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.212) ;
[Item 7] Second floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 49B, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.213) ;
[Item 8] Third floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 50, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.214) ;
[Item 9] Third floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 50A, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.215) ;
[Item 10] Fourth floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 51, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.216) ;
[Item 11] South elevation, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 55, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.217) ;
[Item 12] West elevation, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 56, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.218) ;
[Item 13] Fifth floor, ink line drawing on paper, drawing number 62, J.P. Birrell is the only architect on this plan, 1 Feb 1966 (previously numbered A10.219).
Seven working drawings for the completion of stage 2 of the J.D. Story Administration Building, with University of Queensland title block, University Architect J. P. Birrell, Assistant Architect L. Kulley, ink line drawing on tracing paper, 51 x 76 cm:
[Item 14] Fifth floor, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 52, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.198);
[Item 15] Roof plan, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 53, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.199);
[Item 16] Section, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 54, J.P. Birrell is the only architect on this plan, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.200);
[Item 17] Escape stair, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 58, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.201);
[Item 18] Miscellaneous details, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 59, Sep 1965 (previously numbered A10.202);
[Item 19] Details, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 60, Oct 1965 (previously numbered A10.203); and
[Item 20] Details, ink line drawing on tracing paper, drawing number 63, 1 Feb 19665 (previously numbered A10.204).

5 drawings for work on various buildings at Moggill Farm, ink line drawings on tracing paper, by James Birrell and Partners, 6 May 1966 to Sep 1966.

Two almost identical volumes for stage 2 of the J.D. Story Administration Building by J.P. Birrell and Antony Tod. The difference between the two is the additional numbers on the second copy for the 'Bending lists'. These are the structural architectural plans for the building with two Ref numbers: 1822 and 1066. One plan from March 1966 for hanger rods for the air conditioning platform.

Drawings by Structural Engineer Job 629A (1964), Job 629C (1965) ; Electrical Engineer Job 1126 (1966), Job 1124 (1964), Job 1150 (1965), Job 1152 (1965), Job 1122 (1964).

There are two architectural drawings, ink on paper, with the title The Union which may form part of the pilot plans for an extension to The Union Building which Birrell designed in 1962. There are 14 drawings for the Master Planning Report upon the Student Union Precinct University of Queensland, which was produced by Birrell and assistant architect Richard Stringer. This report was submitted to the Buildings and Grounds Committee in March 1966. 12 of these 14 drawings have the University of Queensland title block with J.P. Birrell as University Architect. Included with these drawings, which form part of the master plan for the precinct, are several designs for a Union Theatre. There are two pencil drawings related to the Union Theatre, without title, date, or creators. All plans are undated.

Job no. M3 Preventative Medicine Laboratory consists of 11 working drawings, ink line drawings on tracing paper, sheets are numbered sequentially 1 to 11, and dated 1964 to 1965.

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.

10 plans, ink line drawings on tracing paper, for renovations to Main Building (now known as Forgan Smith Building). Stage 1 comprises 5 drawings for the Law and the Thomas Thatcher Memorial Libraries with drawing numbers A1/54 to A1/58, dated Aug to Sep 1965. The Thatcher Library, established in 1948, provided services for distance education and closed in 1993. Stage 2 comprises 3 drawings for the area between the Library and Arts entrance with drawing numbers A1/59 to A1/61. There is a plan for the Language laboratory which has no job number or details in title block. The final plan is Job A1/32 Proposed mezzanine floor to printery (Library basement): Architectural plan, ink line drawing on tracing paper, 38 x 70 cm; title block has University Architect J.P. Birrell; Job/drawing number A1/32; no date.

The Shapcott press was on the lower ground floor of Main Library. During the extension to Main Library there was discussion that the printery could be housed on the bottom floor of the Main Building. This last plan seems to reflect that idea. When Main Library was extended the Printery was moved to the Industrial Centre Building, located on the corner of Services Road and Hood Street.