Following years of informal meetings by a group of film enthusiasts that included Len Schaef, George Hansen and Jock Gifford, the Greymouth Cine and Camera Club was founded on 18 February 1953. Mr B W Caulton was elected as the club’s first President and, catering for both film and still photographers, two Vice Presidents were elected; Mr L Schaef (representing the cine enthusiasts) and Mr W Watson (representing the still camera enthusiasts).

In February 1970, with a decreasing interest in film making, Cine was dropped from the name and the club became known as the Greymouth Camera Club. The same year, the club cancelled its affiliation to the Federation of New Zealand Amateur Cine Societies to which it had been affiliated since 1954.

The club became affiliated to the Photographic Society of New Zealand (PSNZ) in 1955. On behalf of PSNZ, it has since hosted one National Convention and five Southern Regional Conventions.

In 1974 outgoing President, Dr John Burford, donated the Burford Salver for an interclub competition between West Coast camera clubs. The competition is still run today, between the Buller and Greymouth clubs, with Greymouth having been successful in winning the Salver the majority of times over the years.

The club changed its name again in 2007, becoming the Greymouth Photography Club, and continues to be known as this today. In October 2020 the club became a member of the Photographic Society of America and began participating in their interclub competitions, competing alongside other photography clubs from around the world.

In 2023 the Greymouth Photography Club celebrated its 70th anniversary, which also happened to coincide with the club’s turn to host the Burford Salver interclub competition. The club was delighted to have John Burford, also the club’s longest-serving President, attend the occasion to both judge the competition and celebrate the club’s milestone with the cutting of the anniversary cake.

Also in 2023, the club established its first national salon; the Māwhera National Salon of Photography. Initially being one of the events planned to celebrate the club’s 70th anniversary, due to the success of the inaugural salon the club continues to run the event in May of each year.