Collection UQFL117 - James Birrell Papers

Identity area

Reference code

UQFL117

Title

James Birrell Papers

Date(s)

  • 1937-1987 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

9 boxes, 2 albums, 1 tube, 62 oversize folders (ca. 1997 plans)

Context area

Name of creator

(1928-2019.)

Biographical history

James Peter Birrell was born in Melbourne on the 24 October 1928. He was educated at the Melbourne Technical College (1945-1949) while working for the Victorian State Works Department (1947), for R.G. Warren (1948) and the Commonwealth Works Department (1948-1950). He transferred into a fourth year course in the School of Architecture at the University of Melbourne. Following his graduation in 1950, he returned to the Commonwealth Works Department and worked for them in Melbourne, Canberra and Darwin. He was appointed Architect in charge of the Architectural Branch in the Brisbane City Council (1955-1961). He resigned to become Staff Architect to the University of Queensland (1961-1966). He commenced his own practice in 1966, with offices at various times in Brisbane, Townsville, Port Moresby, and Maroochydore with various partners (including Lorant Kulley, Philip Conn, Richard Stringer and Lindsay Mack). He died on 20 September 2019, aged 90.

Name of creator

(1966-1997.)

Administrative history

James Birrell commenced his own practice in 1966 after resigning from his position as Architect with the University of Queensland. At this time he also acquired the firm of Scorer and Scorer, which formed the basis of his first jobs. One of those jobs was the Agrictulture and Entomology Buidling at University of Queensland a Scorer and Scorer commission from the Co-ordinator General of the Queensland Government's Department of Works. James Birrell & Partners had offices at various times in Brisbane, Townsville, Port Moresby, and Maroochydore with various partners (including Lorant Kulley, Philip Conn, Richard Stringer and Lindsay Mack). Birrell wound the business up in 1997.

Archival history

Collection previously titled as: Papers, [1948-197-]
Collection alternatively titled as: James Birrell Collection.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Content and structure area

Scope and content

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.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Unrestricted access to plans from private practices. Access to Public Works plans governed by responsible Commonwealth, State and Local Government Agency.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright applies.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Alma MMS ID

991005389659703131

Millennium Local System Number

.b20702450

Libraries Australia ID

63015261 ; 23738944

OCLC Number

1091860152

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Revised

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Revised, Linda Justo, 10-Aug-2021, 10-Mar-2021. Migrated from LMS: April 2019, P.A.

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places

Physical storage

  • Box: UQFL117 Box 1
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 2
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 3
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 4
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 5
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 6
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 7
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 8
  • Box: UQFL117 Box 9
  • Album: UQFL117 Album 1
  • Album: UQFL117 Album 2
  • Tube: UQFL117 Tube 1
  • Oversize folder: UQFL117 Oversize folder 1
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