Australia joined the Grand Prix motorcycle racing calendar in 1989. The first edition of the modern era was held at the Fazed Motorpark Eastern Creek circuit in New South Wales, and the event subsequently alternated between Eastern Creek and the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst for several seasons. Mount Panorama, best known for its steep gradients and public road sections, provided a dramatic but challenging backdrop for premier-class motorcycle racing.
The Bathurst rounds were marked by significant crowd disorder during the early 1980s. The so-called Bathurst motorcycle race riots, a series of disturbances between 1980 and 1985 involving spectators and the New South Wales Police Force Tactical Response Group, led to lasting changes in event management. Following the 1985 race meeting, the Bathurst Regional Council banned spectators from bringing their own alcohol, a measure that also affected the famous Bathurst 1000 touring car race held at the same circuit in October.
The only rider to win the premier-class Australian Grand Prix at multiple different venues is five-time World Champion Mick Doohan, who won at Eastern Creek in 1992 and 1995 before adding a victory at Phillip Island in 1998.
From 1997 the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit became the sole host of the Australian Grand Prix. The 4.448-kilometre circuit on the Bass Strait coast is defined by its flowing high-speed layout, unpredictable weather, and dramatic ocean backdrop. Long corners such as the Southern Loop and Lukey Heights place extraordinary demands on tyres and allow riders to carry exceptional mid-corner speed. The track's exposure to strong southerly winds adds a further variable that consistently produces dramatic and unpredictable racing.
The 2020 and 2021 races were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is contracted to host the event through 2026, after which a modified version of the Adelaide Street Circuit is planned to take over from 2027 onwards.
The event has carried numerous title sponsors reflecting its commercial appeal across more than three decades of racing. Foster's, Qantas, SKYY vodka, Cinzano, Iveco, AirAsia, Tissot, Pramac, Michelin, Animoca Brands, Qatar Airways, and Liqui Moly have all held naming rights at various points. The Pramac Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix of 2019 and the Liqui Moly Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix of 2025 represent recent editions of the race.
The Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island has earned a reputation as one of the most spectacular rounds of the MotoGP season, regularly producing close battles and unpredictable outcomes driven by the circuit's unique characteristics. Its remote island location, combined with passionate Australian motorcycle racing fans, gives the weekend a distinct atmosphere that riders and teams consistently describe as among the most memorable of the year. The planned transition to Adelaide from 2027 will mark the most significant change to the event in nearly three decades.