Description of series:
Original drawings,prints,negatives, tracings and sketches of plans of works carried out for various Commonwealth Departments in Queensland, The plans relate to:the erection of buildings, (also alterations, additions,and repairs) preparation of sites, construction of military camps,R.A.A.F. establishments,rifle ranges, hospitals, airports, lighthouses, wharves, roads and earthworks, provision of essential services (i.e. light, power, water, sewerage, drainage) installation of fuel storage tanks and pine lines, air conditioning units, hot water services, fire protection units, and details of surveys ad traverses. The plans are in a multitude of sizes, e.g. 9 1/2" x 13", 18" x 30",21" x 24", 33" x 51" and others.
 
History Prior/Subsequent to Transfer:
PRIOR TO TRANSFER: Plans of the earlier years ie. up to C1915, were created by the Queensland State Government Architect of the
Queensland Public Works Dept. who transferred them to the
Commonwealth Dept. of Works and Railways on their creation in 1916. The actual date of transfer is not known as inquiries failed to elicit the required information. The plans were maintained by the Plans Record Section of Dept. of Works who kept certain of them in Set order for easier accessibility eg. plans relating to Archerfield (Architectural) were kept together irrespective of registration order. This practice only applied to large projects, eg. Amberley R.A.A.F. Station, Taxation Building, etc. In the main the plans were kept in order of registration. Plans prepared by private firms included the letter F in their registration eg. QFM - Queensland Foreign Mechanical followed by a single number up to 1958, or a yearly single number from 1959 onwards. Due to frequent reference to certain of the plans over the years many of the original drawings deteriorated and prints, negatives or tracings were made prior to the original drawing being destroyed. The plans were screened prior to transfer, valueless plans being destroyed. SUBSEQUENT TO TRANSFER: Upon receipt the plans formerly in Set order were rearranged into strict order of registration. The majority of the plans are in good condition, however there is a percentage showing sign of wear. Gaps within the set are caused by 1. Destruction of valueless plans prior to transfer; 2. Certain plans being retained by the Department for current reference. Following is the various breakups within the Set: QA (Architectural) 27-14588, 59/4-63/1020 (with gaps); QC
(Construction Civil Engineering) 1627-13761, 59/2-59/121 (with gaps); QE (Electrical) 820-4102, 59/2-59/121 (with gaps); QM (Mechanical) 2-3898, 59/3-59/77 (with gaps); QS (Structural) 2-3124, 59/1-59/116 (with gaps); also QST 5410-6157 (with gaps); W (Works) 1-20782 (with gaps); also W 6-5519 (with gaps); QFM (Foreign Mechanical)
59/1-63/285 (with gaps); QFS (Foreign Structural) 59/1-63/55 (with gaps); S (Sketches) 6-1958 (with gaps). In addition there are a quantity of unnumbered plans relating to Brisbane G.P.O., Brisbane Customs House, Archerfield Aerodrome, Eagle Farm Aerodrome, and Maps of Queensland, Brisbane and Suburbs.
 
Administrative information
 
The following data was keyed from the paper documentation:
Form number:              CA 17
Creating department:      , DEPT. OF WORKS, PLANNING & DESIGN, PLAN                           RECORDS
Transferring department:  , DEPT. OF WORKS, PLANNING & DESIGN, PLAN                           RECORDS
Date of transfer:         07/10/1966
Archives file number:     RWB21/1/4
 
The QA single number plans were converted to J2698/1 on 8 June 1995.
The W single number plans were converted to J2774/1 on 29 April 1996. The QA annual single number plans were converted to J344/13 on 7 June 1995.