Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1962-1966. (Creation)
Level of description
Subseries
Extent and medium
16 drawings
Context area
Name of creator
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.
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
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.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted access
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright applies
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
These plans are badly creased, with some water damage.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Oversize folder 45
Note
Previously housed in Folder 41 as A24.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Final
Level of detail
Minimal
Dates of creation revision deletion
Created, Linda Justo, 3-Mar-2021
Language(s)
Script(s)
Sources
Pratt, Fuller (1998). The University of Queensland buildings, St. Lucia campus, by James Birrell. Bachelor's Thesis, School of Geography, Planning & Architecture, The University of Queensland, accessed via eSpace on 3 March 2021.