The site of the Carnatic Halls of Residence, was once the location of Mossley Hill House built in 1779, this house caught fire during renovations in 1890 and was destroyed. A new house was built on the site by Walter Holland called Carnatic Hall, after the death of the Hollands the house was owned by a private company Carnatic Hall Estate Ltd. In 1942 this company mortgaged the property to the University, it was eventually bought by the University in 1946.

Between 1946 and 1964 the University made the Hall available to the Liverpool Museum, as during the Second World War the museum stored many of its artefacts to prevent them from damage during air raids.

In the 1950s plans were drawn up to increase the number of halls of residence, with the Greenbank and Carnatic sites to be developed. Following the purchase of Carnatic Hall the University bought more land and by 1961 owned 21 acres. Following an open competition to design the Carnatic site, the architects Messrs Manning and Clamp of Richmond Surrey were appointed. Over the period 1964-1974 the central building Carnatic House (located close to the site of the old Carnatic Hall) the individual halls were built and a block of flats for staff added in 1974.

The Carnatic site contains the following Halls of Residence:

• McNair Hall (built in 1964-66)
• Salisbury Hall (built in 1964-66)
• Rankin Hall (built in 1970-1972)
• Morton House (built in 1971-73)
• Lady Mountford House (built in 1972-74)
• Dale Hall (completed for 1959-60 session)

Dale Hall became part of the Carnatic complex in 1972-73.