The school was founded from a bequest on the death of Dr. John Edward Elam in 1888 of ten thousand pounds.

His will stated 'in the selection or admission of pupils those shall be preferred who, from poverty or circumstances, are unable at their own charge to obtain for themselves the advantages furnished by the school.

[3] It opened in 1890 and for the first 60 years ran full and part-time instruction in art to both adults and children.

[5] A fire in 1949, which destroyed the school and library, was the catalyst, as well as the loss of pre-1950 administrative records, that resulted in joining with the University.

[8] In 2018 students and staff protested at Auckland University's Fine Arts Library as its proposed closure.