The circuit was situated on the northern edges of Longford, a town 23 km (14 mi) south-west of Launceston. The layout utilized a network of public roads that incorporated significant local infrastructure and geographical features. A single lap required drivers to pass under a railway line viaduct and cross the South Esk River via the wooden Kings Bridge. The course then turned hard right at the doorstep of the Longford Hotel before crossing the railway line at a level crossing. The lap concluded by traversing the South Esk River a second time via another wooden structure known as the Long Bridge.
The venue held its inaugural race meeting in 1953. It quickly established itself as a premier Australian racing facility, hosting a round of the Australian Drivers' Championship every year from 1958 through 1965. In 1959, the circuit gained international stature by hosting the Australian Grand Prix for the first time. It also became a fixture for sports car racing, serving as the site for the Australian Tourist Trophy in 1960, 1964, and 1966.
During the 1960s, Longford became a central stop for international competitors. From 1964 to 1968, the track hosted an annual round of the Tasman Series, attracting a "who's who" of contemporary Grand Prix racing. World Champions who competed at the circuit included Jack Brabham, Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Phil Hill, Denny Hulme, and Jackie Stewart. They were joined by international stars Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon.
The circuit also showcased prominent Australian open-wheel and touring car talent. Regular competitors included Bib Stillwell, Lex Davison, Leo Geoghegan, Frank Matich, Frank Gardner, Spencer Martin, Kevin Bartlett, and John Harvey. The touring car ranks featured Ian Geoghegan, Norm Beechey, Bob Jane, and Allan Moffat, while local Tasmanian driver John Youl emerged as a leading figure in Australian racing during this period.
In 1962, Longford hosted the single-race Australian Touring Car Championship. At 7.242 km, it remains the longest circuit to ever host a round of the ATCC. The venue hosted its second Australian Grand Prix in 1965.
The use of Longford as a motor racing venue was curtailed following the 1968 Tasman Series meeting. The closure was primarily driven by financial issues. In the years following its decommissioning, much of the original track infrastructure was lost; both the Kings Bridge and Long Bridge were demolished, and a modern highway now intersects the original road network.
Longford was characterized by its high speeds. At the final meeting in 1968, New Zealand’s Chris Amon set an outright lap record of 2:12.6 driving a Ferrari P4 sports car. This lap, recorded at an average speed of 196.7 km/h (122.2 mph), stood as the fastest lap record for any Australian motor racing circuit for nearly two decades. It was eventually surpassed in 1987 by the Calder Park Thunderdome, a high-banked oval. However, Longford maintained its status as Australia's fastest road racing circuit until the opening of the Albert Park Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne in 1996.
Motorsport returned to the area in 2011 with the establishment of the Longford Revival Festival. This event takes place on Pateena Road, a section of the original course known as "The Flying Mile." The festival allows drivers to run both modern road cars and historic race cars along this specific stretch of the former circuit.
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