1929. The Knysna Power Station. This industrial building housed the diesel engine driven electrical power generators of the Knysna Municipality. In order to be feasible, a minimum of 120 householders would need to commit to the scheme, but when the system was switched on by the wife of the Mayor, Mrs. IA Foakes (born Barrington) on 8 July 1929, 140 consumers were connected, 247 electrical power poles had been erected, 50000 yards (45700 meters) of wiring had been installed and 70 lamps of 100 watts power each lit the town. The project cost L9000. The consulting electrical engineer was Mr. AS Chalmers of George, and Mr. HS Perks of Knysna built the building and installed the plant. Thesen’s supplied power to the town in the 1940’s and Eskom took over the supply of power in 1973.