The Swiss Club of Victoria was founded in 1899 but dissolved in 1904. After nearly two decades, it relaunched post-World War I, with the inaugural meeting in September 1924. The Swiss, known for their sociability and organizational skills, kept a busy social calendar, featuring monthly meetings, dances, and National Day celebrations. However, the 1929 Depression hit hard, forcing the club to hold meetings at members’ homes and limiting activities to occasional social functions. The 30s and 40s brought better times with new premises, leading to a revitalized calendar that included picnics at members' properties, regular dance evenings, and Christmas celebrations at other clubs.

The early 1950s were prosperous for the Swiss Club, enjoying financial stability and a vibrant social scene with film evenings, social nights, and the National Day Ball. New post-war arrivals from Switzerland brought fresh perspectives, sparking a debate about the language used in meetings. To maintain harmony, English was chosen as a compromise. In the mid-1950s, a busy social calendar highlighted the need for a liquor license, despite concerns it might alter the club's character. The Swiss Club of Victoria officially opened as a licensed club in December 1959. By 1958 a total of six interest groups had been formed within the club; the Folk Dancers, the Yodelers, the Fencers, “Ländlermusik’, the Rifle Club and the Soccer Club. One group that has always flourished, although never formally declared an interest group, is the Jassers. Ever since the foundation of the Swiss Club, the card game ‘Jass’ has been regularly played by the Swiss people in Melbourne. Wednesday Night is Jass night at the club to this day.

Entering the 1960s, the Swiss Club of Victoria boasted its own premises, a new liquor license, and 216 members. Reflecting the times, the newly elected committee was split into business and social/function committees, emphasizing the need for a more serious approach to operations. But by 1963, The Swiss Club faced financial challenges despite raising membership fees. A new manager was hired to offer authentic Swiss food and a businessman’s lunch, but this approach was unpopular and unsustainable. After Bruno and Aida Jenny took over, finances improved, but the club still struggled to form a committee and balance social activities with financial viability. The first Soiree Suisse Romande was organised in 1966,  and the National Day Ball attracted 520 attendees, generating a decent profit. However, more funds were needed to meet commitments. Bar trading declined due to a 10 pm closing in Victoria and falling membership, leaving the club perpetually chasing its finances. Then a much-needed breakthrough occurred when the committee received an offer to sell 161 Spring Street, and the members voted in favor of the sale.

Settled in the new building at 89 Flinders Lane in 1973, the Swiss Club needed new management. Ernst Keller became the full-time manager, but high wages led to heavy losses. When a new committee took over in 1974, another manager was brought in, but conditions worsened. Tony Erb was appointed and successfully managed the club until his retirement in 1984. In 1973, the Saturday Morning Swiss School was established to connect Australian-born children of Swiss heritage. It remained active for over 30 years. In the early 2000s, a monthly playgroup was also established, running for several years. As needs changed, the school and playgroup merged to become “SwissKids,” which continues to organize activities today.

The new committee formed in 1977 successfully turned the club’s finances around and proposed a refurbishment of the first floor. Frederic Müller, with assistance from Bill Fix and the Yodel Club Edelweiss, led the renovation efforts. The club temporarily closed for three weeks over Christmas, during which Hans Brunner, a qualified carpenter and star yodeller from the Yodel Choir Edelweiss, built handrails to enhance safety and accessibility. Despite facing challenges, including the loss of the ground floor tenant in 1978 and the difficulty in finding a replacement for a year, the club thrived with numerous events and reached a membership of 700. The decade concluded on a high note with the 1 August Ball, which was overbooked by 180 tickets, showcasing the club’s enduring appeal and community spirit.

The early 1980s brought significant changes to Victoria’s liquor licensing laws, introducing licensed restaurants that created direct competition for clubs. Unlike restaurants, licensed clubs could only advertise their facilities through the club newsletters, impacting the Swiss Club severely. Despite having 800 members, regular patronage declined, leading to dwindling funds. Fortunately, a new interpretation of the liquor laws allowed for the appointment of a manager to oversee both the bar and catering operations. A suggestion by Ernst Hügli in 1983 lead to the Swiss Club joining forces with the German Club Tivoli, the Austrian Club, and R.K.V. Treue Husaren to form the Melbourne Oktoberfest and Exhibition Society, aiming to hold an annual Oktoberfest at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds. This event required significant effort to succeed and, while initially risky, became a vital source of income for the club over two decades, fostering camaraderie among members and volunteers from the Swiss community.

The Swiss Community celebrated the 700^th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation in 1991 with several high-profile events even participating in the annual Moomba procession. This most colourful spectacle was awarded first prize for the ‘Most Outstanding Entry’. 1992 saw the formation of the Companion Singers al mixed choir signing traditional Swiss songs. Despite strong Oktoberfest income, cash flow remained a problem. In 1995, the club realised it was unable to sustain its losses, prompting the formation of a sub-committee called Vision 2000 to ensure future viability. A survey confirmed that the central location was convenient for most members. The Vision 2000 team proposed a public restaurant on the ground floor to provide steady income while servicing the first-floor dining room. Members approved the plan, and Roger Moullet took on the challenge, leading to the opening of the Rösti Bar in 1997.  The club celebrated its centenary with a Gala Dinner in 1999, beginning with a cocktail party in the Rösti Bar, followed by a four-course dinner in the club room on the first floor. Despite a promising start, the Rösti Bar was sold in 2000, and Roger Moullet took over full-time management of the first-floor restaurant.

In 2003, Rita Schwärzler-Appt made history as the Swiss Club's first female president, successfully spearheading the refurbishment of the first-floor restaurant in 2005. This renovation transformed the space into a brighter venue, highlighted by stunning leadlight windows depicting Switzerland’s cantonal flags. Over the years, the club's fortunes improved, benefiting from stable income generated by the ground-floor tenant and the restaurant. The committee organized numerous events, including the launch of the Swiss Festival, which catered to all age groups and fostered community engagement both within and outside the club. In 2009, the Second Floor was transformed into a vibrant function room, expanding the club’s capacity to host events. Roger Moullet managed the restaurant until March 2020, when COVID-19 lockdowns prompted his retirement, marking the end of an era. Throughout this time, the club not only adapted to challenges but thrived by enhancing its facilities and community programs, solidifying its role as a vital hub for the Swiss community in Victoria.

The Swiss Club of Victoria played a vital role in maintaining community spirit during the COVID years, even with the restaurant closed, thanks to a dedicated group of members led by Barbara Kündig. They organized a variety of in-person and online events, ensuring the community stayed connected. Celebrations for National Day and Foundation Day continued, alongside regular band nights and popular Raclette nights. A well-attended art exhibition showcased Swiss artists living in Australia, further enriching the club’s cultural offerings.

Wednesday club nights featured Jass games and French conversation through Les Bavards, fostering social interaction and connection among members during these challenging years. The club also supported the Dance Group Alpenrose in organizing Jass competitions four times a year. Additionally, they collaborated with the Trachtengruppe Schwyzerguress, under the leadership of Sylvia Hochuli, OAM, to host popular events like the Kaffeeklatsch and Seniors Christmas, which serve as important gatherings for seniors in the Swiss community. These initiatives helped maintain a strong sense of camaraderie and support among members, ensuring that the club remained an integral part of their lives and a cornerstone of community engagement.

In 2023, members approved renovations for the first-floor restaurant, which included relocating the toilets to the back, opening the space to Flinders Lane, and adding a new bar and commercial kitchen. Patrick Rychner managed the six-month project, navigating challenges posed by the building's age and new regulations. A new restaurant operator was appointed, and in October 2024, the Edelwyss Bistro & Bar opened, marking a new chapter in the Swiss Club of Victoria's long history.