Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1955-1961 (Creation)
Level of description
Subseries
Extent and medium
1 volumes (16 architectural drawings) + 1 volume (13 architectural drawings) + 1 volume (45 drawings) + 29 architectural 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
James Birrell was the Architect in Charge of the Architectural Branch in the Brisbane City Council from 1955 to 1961. His work with the council includes the multi-storey car park at 136 Wickham Terrace in Brisbane (added to Queensland Heritage Register on 13 Jan 1955 as the Brisbane City Council Carpark), the former Toowong Library (added to Queensland Heritage Register on 28 Aug 1988) and the Centenary Pool Complex at Spring Hill (added to Queensland Heritage Register on 5 Nov 1996).
Drawings:
[Item 1] 'Chermside Library' ; Sketch plan ; ink line drawing with colour on paper ; Oct 1955 ; 38 x 64 cm (previously numbered A5.01).
[Item 2] 'Chermside Civic Centre : view of hall from Hall Street' ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated ; 32 x 48 cm (previously numbered A5.02).
[Item 3] 'Chermside Civic Centre' ; Elevations, cross section ; ink line drawing on paper ; Oct 1957 ; 21 x 34 cm (previously numbered A5.03).
[Item 4] 'New Farm Power House Amenities & Office block : sketch' ; View from north, First Floor Plan, Ground Floor plan; ink line drawing on paper ; 24 Nov 1955 ; 44 x 66 cm (previously numbered A5.04).
[Item 5] 'New Farm Power House Office & Amenity block : working drawing' ; Elevations, First Floor Plan, Ground Floor plan, Foundation plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; Dec 1955 ; 62 x 95 cm (previously numbered A5.05).
[Item 6] 'Public conveniences West End : sketch plan ; Perspective, Site plan ; ink line drawing on paper ; Dec 1955 ; 38 x 44 cm (previously numbered A5.06).
[Item 7] 'Counter etc. Adelaide St. Foyer City Hall : sketch plan' ; ink line drawing with colour on paper ; Jan. 1955? ; 51 x 69 cm (previously numbered A5.07).
[Item 8] 'Entrance Feature Albert Park : conversion of A.R.P. shelter : sketch' ; ink line drawing on paper ; Feb 1956 ; 41 x 42 cm (previously numbered A5.08).
[Item 9] 'Manly Baths : proposed spectator stand : sketch plan' ; ink line drawing on paper ; 4 Apr 1956 ; 37 x 86 cm (previously numbered A5.09).
[Item 10] 'Administration Office, Works deport & conveniences, Wynnum : Sketch plan' ; ink line drawing on paper ; May 1956 ; 58 x 103 cm (previously numbered A5.10).
[Item 11] 'Administration Office, Works deport & conveniences, Wynnum : Sketch plan' ; ink line drawing on paper ; 4 Jul 1953? ; 51 x 72 cm (previously numbered A5.11).
[Item 12] 'Aspley Cemetery : Office - staff & public amenities : working drawing' ; ink line drawing on paper ; Feb 1959 ; 49 x 79 cm (previously numbered A5.12).
[Item 13] 'Langlands Park Swimming Pools Caretakers flat and stores : sketch plan' ; ink line drawing on paper ; Apr 1959 ; 39 x 56 cm (previously numbered A5.13).
[Item 14] 'Sewerage Maintenance Depot Graham St Milton : working drawing' ; ink line drawing on paper; Aug 1959 ; 53 x 78 cm (previously numbered A5.14).
[Item 15] 'Breakfast Ck Pumping Station : working drawings' ; Elevation, Plans, Sections, Site plan ; ink line drawing on paper; Jul 1959 ; 52 x 78 cm (previously numbered A5.15).
[Item 16] 'Sketch from Wickham Terrace' ; 1 bound presentation volume (11 architectural drawings) ; ink line drawings with colour on paper ; held together with metal paper binders ; 6 Oct 1959 ; 45 x 74 cm ; (previously numbered A5.16-A5.27, with title page having a number).
[Item 17] ' Annerly [sic] District Municipal Library' ; Perspective ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated ; 43 x 74 cm (previously numbered A5.28).
[Item 18] 'Annerley District Municipal Library' ; Perspective ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated ; 21 x 34 cm (previously numbered A5.29).
[Item 19] 'Fortitude Valley : Gallery sketch plans' ; Plan at street level, Plan of seating & upper concourse ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated ; 64 x 101 cm (previously numbered A5.30).
[Item 20] 'Cross section thro [sic] galleries etc.' for a pool facility ; ink line drawing on paper ; undated ; 21 x 51 cm (previously numbered A5.31).
[Item 21] Ground floor, Mezzanine for a pool facility ; ink line drawing with colour on tracing paper ; untitled ; undated ; 47 x 76 cm (previously numbered A5.32).
[Item 22] Section, for a pool facility ; ink line drawing with colour on tracing paper ; untitled ; undated ; 50 x 76 cm (previously numbered A5.33).
[Item 23] Perspective for a pool facility ; ink line drawing with colour on tracing paper ; amendments in pen on front of plan ; untitled ; undated ; 54 x 75 cm ; (previously numbered A5.34).
[Item 24] 'Centenary Pool Victoria Park : roof deck details' ; ink line drawing on paper ; Aug 1958 ; 70 x 103 cm (previously numbered A5.35).
[Item 25] Job no. HB/4/8 'Dunlop Park Swimming Pools : working drawings bath-house' ; ink line drawing on paper ; Apr 1960 ; 76 x 133 cm (previously numbered A5.82).
[Item 26] 'Standard dressing shed : working drawing' ; ink line drawing on paper ; 6 Apr 1960 ; 51 x 77 cm (no prior numbering).
[Item 27] 'Standard dressing shed : details' ; ink line drawing on paper ; 3 May 1960 ; 51 x 77 cm (no prior numbering).
[Item 28] 'Standard dressing shed : details' ; ink line drawing on paper ; 14 Apr 1960 ; 51 x 77 cm (no prior numbering).
[Item 29] One volume, previously held together with paper binders, with two jobs ; 16 architectural drawings (previously 17). Job no. B13.1 Dunlop Park Swimming Pools : architectural drawings schedule: ink line drawings on paper ; creators are J.P. Birrell (Architect in Charge, BCC Dept of Planning & Building), Macdonald Wagner & Priddle (Engineers), H.A. Mitchell & Son (Qty Surveyors) ; sheets numbered B.13.1/1 to B13.1/12 ; Mar-May 1960 ; 76 x 133 cm (previously numbered A5.84-A5.96 and A5.101). Drawing no. 3006 Dunlop Park Swimming Pool - Corinda, Sewage Treatment Works ; ink line drawings on paper ; 67 x 99 cm (previously numbered A5.97-A5.100).
[Item 30] Job no. T.6.2 Bus Body Workshop, Department of Transport Coronation Drive Milton : Schedule of Architectural and Engineering Drawings : working drawings ; 1 volume (13 architectural drawings) ; sequentially numbered T.6.2/1 to T.6.2/12 with extra drawing for Drawing no. W2352/5 'Drainage layout' inserted ; ink line drawings on paper ; Dec 1960 to Jan 1961 ; 70 x 100 cm (previously numbered A5.102-A5.115). [Building demolished]
[Item 31] Job no. BH/1/67 Wickham Terrace Car Park : Details of prefabricated copper plumbing; BCC Dept of Planning & Building in title block ; ink line drawing on paper ; 14 Oct 1960 ; 71 x 126 cm (previously numbered A5.83?).
[Item 32] Job no. 1111 Brisbane City Council - Multi Storey Car Park - Wickham Terrace - Brisbane. Structural details ; by Macdonald, Wagner & Priddle (Consulting Civil Engineers) ; 1 volume (45 drawings) previously bound together ; sheets numbered sequentially 1111/1 to 1111/47 with numbers 29-30, 34, 40 missing and the last two sheets are missing the right hand corner ; from sheet number 45 onwards pages are badly torn and missing sections along the right hand edge ; ink line drawings on paper ; Dec 1959 to Feb 1960 ; 69 x 97 cm (previously numbered A5.36-A5.81).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Oversize folder 59: UQFL117-Series A-Subseries 3-Items 1-24, 26-28.
Oversize folder 60: UQFL117-Series A-Subseries 3-Items 25, 29.
Oversize folder 61: UQFL117-Series A-Subseries 3-Item 30.
Oversize folder 62: UQFL117-Series A-Subseries 3- Items 31, 32.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Access governed by responsible Local Government Agency.
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright applies
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Plans are in very poor condition, some with mould (inactive), tears and/or large sections missing. Recommend digital preservation copies be made for Items 29 and 30.
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Oversize folders 59-62.
Note
Previously housed in Folder 12 as A5.01-17, A5.28-29 ; Folder 13 as A5.36-81 ; Folder 14 ; Folder 15 as A5.82-100 ; Folder 16 as A5.102-115.
Alternative identifier(s)
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Description control area
Description identifier
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Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Final
Level of detail
Minimal
Dates of creation revision deletion
Created, Linda Justo, 10-Mar-2021.