4 coloured concept drawings consisting of 2 original drawings and 2 prints for the interior and exterior of the Fryer Library teaching space renovation; 1 compact disc containing images of drawings.

The collection comprises 1109 photographs, 1 album (with 39 photographs), and 10 digital images relating to the University of Queensland. It also includes real photo postcards.

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).

Seventeen drawings for the Achitecture Music & Planning Building (now the Sir Zelman Cowen Building), drawn in 1973, for Job no. 335 of Nutter Stevenson & Partners. All signed off by the Office of the University Architect. Includes:
Drawing no. 2, Issue B, Site plan, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 4, Issue I, Level 3, drawn by AHG, Jan 1973. --
Drawing no. 5, Issue D, Level 4, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 6, Issue F, Level 5, drawn by AHG, Jan 1973. --
Drawing no. 7, Issue B, Roof & plant room plans, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 8, Issue B, North & East elevations, drawn by [AHG], Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 9, Issue C, South & West elevations, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 10, Issue A, Section C & W. Elevation, drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 11, Issue C, Sections 'A' & 'B', drawn by AHG, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 14, Issue A, Detail sections, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 15, Issue B, Detail sections, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 16, Issue A, Detail sections, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 17, Issue A, Large scale details, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 18, Issue B, Miscellaneous details, drawn by DAN, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 19, Issue C, Room 434 details, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 20, Issue C, Room 434 details, drawn by CH, Jun 1973. --
Drawing no. 25, Issue A, Stair 3 details, drawn by DB, Jun.

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).