[1] The original Gippsland Football Association was formed in 1889, after a meeting of club delegates from the towns of Hazelwood, Morwell, Rosedale, Thorpdale, Traralgon, and Yarram.

The promoters of the LVFL wanted to have a league that consisted of towns along the Orbost railway line, from Warragul to Sale.

"The background of the move, as reported on several occasions in this journal, is (1) to remove unbalances in the present population strengths of the towns at present fielding teams in the Central Gippsland Football League; (2) to link up with towns with the same community of interest; (3) to uplift the standard of football, by bringing the strongest clubs into competition; (4) to strengthen clubs financially through expected enhanced gates.

[8] These three clubs then joined the South Gippsland Football League in 1954, with Leongatha entering two senior teams – Green & Gold.

After the 2004 season, the western division was dissolved, with Warragul, Drouin and Garfield joining the premier league.