James Birrell architectural plans
Collection
James Birrell, one of Queensland's preeminent architects, is responsible for some of the best known buildings in Queensland from the 1950s onwards. The architectural plans in this collection represent the works which he undertook in the years in which he was in private practice working on projects in North Queensland, New Guinea and later, in the Maroochydore district. Projects on the Sunshine Coast include commercial, residential and holiday accommodation in Caloundra, Buderim, Nambour, Noosa, Coolum, Mooloolaba, Alexandra Headland and Maroochydore. They include various commerical projects; Great Keppel Island Tourist Resort; James Cook University; Maroochy Shire Chambers; Private Hospitals; Town plans (Livingstone Shire) as well as the residential projects. He also undertook many projects in Papua New Guinea, and some in New Hebrides. Two of the plans are dated 1939 to 1947, the remainder date between 1952 and 2000.
James Birrell was born in Victoria and attended Essendon High School. He graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1951. He was appointed Brisbane City Council Architect in 1955. During this time he designed and oversaw many projects, including the Toowong Library, the Centenary Pool and the Car Park on Wickham Terrace. In 1961, he became University of Queensland Staff Architect. He designed the J.D. Story Administration Building and the Union College Building at Queensland University and designed the campus plan at James Cook University in Townsville. He later went into private practice in Queensland and New Guinea and became a planning consultant to the Indonesian Government. He wrote a noted biography of Walter Burley Griffin in 1964.
In copyright.