James Birrell - Personal Life

Personal Life

James Birrell was born in Melbourne 1928, the eldest child of Harry and Elizabeth Birrell. Growing up in North Essendon, Birrell attended North Essendon Primary School from 1934–40 and Essendon State High School from 1940-44.

In 1945 at the age of 17 James Birrell was accepted into the Melbourne Technical College as an architecture student. To help finance his studies Birrell worked part-time as builder’s labourer. In 1947 Birrell began work as a draughtsman for the Victorian State Works Department and continued his studies Part-time. The same year he also became involved in the Contemporary Arts Society, through the Society he gained many new friends, notably Peter Burns.

In 1950 Birrell is accepted into Fourth Year Architecture at The University of Melbourne. In 1951 he graduated and designed his first houses, in Frankston and Warrandyte, Birrell also worked briefly as the resident Architect at The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories.

In 1952 Birrell co-founds the magazine Architecture and Arts with his contemporaries, Peter Burns, Helen O’Donnell and Norman Lehey. In 1954 Birrell contributes to the Contemporary Arts Society’s exhibition ‘Space Modulators’ along with artists including Sidney Nolan, Ian Fairweather, Charles Blackman, Arthur Boyd and John Perceval.

Working for The Commonwealth Works Department, Birrell was transferred to Canberra, before going on to Darwin and finally Brisbane. In Brisbane James Birrell went on to become Brisbane City Council Architect and University of Queensland Staff Architect. It was during this period that Birrell designed his most significant buildings.

Throughout his life Birrell admired the works of Walter Burley Griffin and in 1964 he wrote a biography on Griffin. In March 1985 James Birrell was elected as a councillor for the Shire of Maroochy in Queensland.