The Shepparton Swans were originally known as the "Lemnos Football Club", named after the Greek island of the same name where some local Shepparton men were posted during World War I (the local area, originally known as 'Thomas Estate No. 5', became known as that from then on) and played in black and yellow jumpers.
When the GVFA's title was changed to the Central Goulburn Valley Football League in 1946, Lemnos applied for admission into the newly formed league, but was refused. It also found that their colours were already being used by the Shepparton East Football Club, who joined the GVFA in 1945.[6] As a result, the club applied for and entered the Goulburn Valley Football League in 1946.[7] Being a town-based league, the club's name was changed to Lemnos-Shepparton. Again, the black and yellow colours were already in use (this time by the Rushworth Football Club). As a result, in 1946 the club took up the use of a white jumper with a red v (similar to the VFL team of South Melbourne at the time).
The first premiership the club won in this league was in 1959, beating Kyabram by 39 points.
In the 1960s a series of improvements led to the club moving from Deakin Reserve to Princess Park in Shepparton. It wasn't until 1970 that Lemnos-Shepparton won another premiership, again beating Kyabram (this time by 35 points).
In 1999, Lemnos-Shepparton formally adopted the new names of the Shepparton Swans, staying with this permanently.[8]
