Credited with raising the female population of the University, the Home Sciences building was purpose built for New Zealand’s only School of Home Science attached to a University and has been occupied by the School ever since. It has historical and architectural significance.

Both iwi history and archaeological evidence show Māori occupation in the Ōtākou / Otago region since the 12th century. Today, Kāi Tahu mana whenua is recognised over a large part of Te Wai Pounamu. Kāti Māmoe and Waitaha shared occupation are always acknowledged.

The hapū Kai Te Pahi, Kāti Moki, and Kāti Taoka still maintain their presence and responsibility as kaitiaki in this region. Traditional Māori place names include Ōwheo (the Water of Leith), a river that runs directly in front of the Clock Tower building and through campus, would have facilitated travel by waka from the coast to places further inland and the mouth of Ōwheo, known as Te Tutai o Te Matauira, was likely a valuable settlement area for accessing kaimoana and other resources. While there were no permanent settlements around Leith Street, the area near the Toitū Tauraka waka (List No. 9774) was known as Ōtepoti.

The Home Science Block is a part of the complex of University buildings built between 1878 and the 1920s. Otago University was established in 1871 and is the oldest of the New Zealand universities. Edmund Anscombe (1874-1948), architect, faithfully followed the style for the Home Science Block as set by the original architect of the Clock Tower building (List No. 62), Maxwell Bury (1825-1912), who was influenced by Sir George Gilbert Scott's design for Glasgow University built in 1870.

The creation of the Home Science School was in part due to philanthropists John Studholme (1829-1903), Dr F.C. Batchelor (1850-1915) and Dr Frederick Truby King (1858-1938) who were motivated by a belief that academic education in home science would lead to proper treatment of infants and children, better management of homes and improvements in the nation’s health. Professor Winifred Boys-Smith (1865-1939) was the driving force behind the fight for adequate premises, from 1913.

While Studholme had started to fund the school with a donation of £300 ($60,321) per year, the University requested government funding instead of relying on private citizens for the Home Science School. The University Council was told that a grant for a new school was not possible doing war time. With further deputations, the Government agreed to fund £5,460 ($702,196) to erect the buildings, which were started. The fund was short of £1,626 ($209,115), which with a public appeal and a further deputation to the government was successfully raised. On the 15 November 1918, the foundation stone was laid on the site of Tanna Hill with construction starting soon after. The material used was the same as the other University buildings; Leith Valley andesite with Oamaru stone facings and a roof with alternating bands of fish tail and square slates. The basement was plastered over and may be concrete.