The college was established in 1889 as the Dunedin Technical School when the Caledonian Society of Otago instigated night education classes.

The college's former buildings, including the main block now known as King Edward Court, are registered as category 1 with Heritage New Zealand.

The first classes—in carpentry, chemistry, cookery, domestic economy, typewriting and woodcarving—were held at the "Dunedin Technical School" on 1 May 1889 in a building on Moray Place.

In February 1966, the tertiary arm of the college officially adopted the name Otago Polytechnic and moved, initially to a new site on York Place close to the Upper Stuart Street site, but later to Union Street, close to the University of Otago.

The main building, designed by Harry Mandeno as his first commission, has a Category I listing with Heritage New Zealand, registration number 4712.

It has both Neo-Baroque and Georgian Revival design elements such as the oeil de boeuf windows and the brick façade.

[3] The old Dunedin School of Art building is located near King Edward Court at the corner of Tennyson Street and York Place.