Birrell, James, 1928-....

James Birrell 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 (1949-1950). 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).

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 biography of Walter Burley Griffin in 1964.