[1] Proposals for a Queensland university were first made in the 1870s, but the idea did not have strong public or government support in a new colony where tertiary education was not a funding priority.

In 1930 the University Senate handed over Victoria Park, less eleven acres reserved for a medical school, to the Brisbane City Council in exchange for the St Lucia site.

There was no prospect of building on the new site until 1935 when the Premier, William Forgan Smith, announced that the Queensland Government would undertake construction.

[1] The foundation stone was laid in 1937 but the Second World War disrupted work and the main building was used as the headquarters of General Sir Thomas Blamey, head of the Australian Defence forces.

[1] Residential Colleges to accommodate the students had been established for some time on the edges of the inner city area but it was intended that they should relocate when permanent sites were available on the new campus.

Building schemes were considered in 1953, but the cost was too great and the Union purchased two large houses in Wickham Terrace in April 1956, after the premises they had formerly rented was sold.

It was decided to survey the St Lucia site, though the University's Staff Architect, James Birrell, questioned its suitability.

Birrell exhibited with the Contemporary Art Society and helped to organise a tour for them before being transferred to Darwin to take charge of the Commonwealth Department drawing office.

[1] In 1955 he resigned from the Commonwealth Works Department and was appointed Architect in Charge of the drawing office of the Brisbane City Council's Architectural Branch.

[1] By July 1963, Birrell had developed a plan for Union College that he believed would provide a residential collegiate atmosphere without undue institutional appearance.

This has been achieved by meandering the dormitory block in a more or less rambling fashion so that it encloses in effect two cloistered courtyards, one of which overlooks no 2 oval across the top of the communal facilities building and the other, the residential section of Upland Road.

[1] The facilities block has been arranged along even contours one floor lower than the dormitory building so that at no point are the bedroom outlooks detrimentally affected.

[1] This plan represented the cutting edge of international ideas on architecture in respect of its form and the mode of its construction and generated a considerable amount of interest in the building and design industries.

The tender of T J Watkins was accepted in June 1964 and the first stage was still being completed when Education Minister, Jack Pizzey, officially opened it in July 1965.

Innovative features ranged from the large one piece pivoting windows to the flat roof intended to be used for living and recreational space.

[1] Extensions were carried out during the 1963–66 triennium including extending the facilities wing, landscaping and constructing the warden's residence on the ground floor of block F. The tender of C P Hornick and Sons was accepted in May 1966 for an overall cost of $77,463.

Trios of hopper windows have replaced the majority of the large pivoted windowpanes that formed a distinctive feature of the design.

The Great Court is sited to dominate the rise of the land and have a commanding view of the surrounding campus buildings, the playing fields and the river beyond.

The structure has a steel sheeted roof supported by an off-form concrete portal frame infilled with Mt Coot-tha bluestone.

Raised areas set with trees and surrounded by bluestone retaining walls preserve original hillocks on the site.

The plan form of the building follows different angles, facing variously north-east, east, and north, creating courtyards that contain large mature trees and gardens.

An innovative residential college designed in 1963, it was modern and functional in concept and construction and responds to the vegetation and topography of its site.

Union College has social significance as an important component of university life to the many people who have resided there as students or as teachers and administrators.

It also represented a departure from tradition in the provision of a modern lifestyle for students and as the first residential college in Queensland to offer accommodation to both men and women.

Union College is important as a major work of James Birrell, an architect of national stature and repute, and is evidence of his thought and practice.

Birrell was Staff Architect for the University of Queensland when he selected the site and designed Union College and was involved with the master planning of the campus.

The work of James Birrell, particularly for the Brisbane City Council and the University of Queensland is widely held to be influential and innovative.