In 1957, members of the Gemmologist Association, keenly interested in rocks, decided to form a lapidary club and convened a meeting at the Steamship Building, St Georges Terrace, Perth, on 5th September, 1957.

Nineteen attended the meeting, (nine apologies) and The W.A. Lapidary and Rock Hunting Club was formed. The foundation president was Albert Geary.

Meetings were held at various venues around Perth until 1964 when the Club purchased an old church, built of stone in East Fremantle.

The first proper course in lapidary commenced in May, 1964. Instructors appointed were Nan Clarke and Shirley Metcalfe (Nee McLauchlan).

The first newsletter "The Rockhunter" was published in 1964.

The Club was desperate for money and even charged 10c for sitting on a chair at meetings unless members had purchased a chair outright for $4.00. Members worked hard to raise funds and to carry out many improvements to the building. However, by 1971 it became abundantly clear that the premises simply were not big enough.

A wide search was made for new premises before the current property in which the Club is now situated, was found. The new premises, again an old church, was purchased in 1972. To pay for the new premises and to undertake the necessary additions and alterations, members were asked to take out debentures, interest free, for 8 years. The old wooden church building was pulled down in March 1980 and building of new workshops commenced.