The school opened in 1953 on a site adjacent to Dominion Breweries on Great South Road in Papatoetoe. The school was intended to be named Middlemore Intermediate, but changed to Otara Intermediate when the school opened in February 1953. The 650 pupils enrolled at that time came from both Papatoetoe and the surrounding district. The school comprised a double storey block of 16 classrooms and several specialist rooms, including a library. The headmaster was Mr R.A. Robbie. A school committee and a home and school association were formed.
