During the early part of 1890, Mr B A Lewis, manager of the Gas Works, and Mr T W Cairncross of Leeuwenhof, the present home of the Premier of the Western Cape, often talked of inviting a few amateur photographers to meet at convenient times to exchange ideas that might be beneficial to all concerned. It was decided to place an advertisement in one of the daily papers requesting those interested in photography to meet in the St George’s School room in Wale Street, on Thursday, 30th October 1890 for the purpose of forming a Photographic Society.