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Things to Do in Longford, Tasmania: History, Gardens and More
- Woolmers Estate. Image Credit: Darren Wright Photos
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Its streets are lined with Georgian buildings, old churches and country gardens, while two UNESCO World Heritage convict sites sit just beyond town.
Around 20 minutes south of Launceston, Longford is an easy place to spend a few hours or settle in for a quiet weekend. Walk through its historic streets, explore Woolmers and Brickendon, follow the remains of a former Grand Prix circuit and leave enough time for a bakery stop along the way.
Location: Around 20 minutes south of Launceston
Best for: Heritage, gardens, photography, country food and motor racing history
Time needed: Half a day for the town, or a full day with Woolmers and Brickendon
Getting around: A car is the easiest option
Good to know: Check opening days for heritage properties, churches, galleries and vineyards
Longford’s story did not begin with its Georgian buildings. The Northern Midlands have been cared for by Tasmanian Aboriginal people for tens of thousands of years, long before the arrival of European settlers and convict labour.
Much of Longford’s early streetscape remains intact, with Georgian homes, former inns, churches and public buildings still standing throughout the town.
Pick up the self-guided heritage walk information from the Northern Midlands Visitor Centre inside JJ’s Bakery, then follow the route through Wellington Street and the surrounding neighbourhoods. Along the way, look for convict-era buildings, grand country homes and stories connected to some of the Northern Midlands’ earliest European settlers.
Longford’s historic shopfronts are home to a small but interesting mix of galleries, antiques, homewares, gifts and locally made goods. Take your time exploring Wellington Street and the surrounding town centre, where you’ll find independent businesses, creative spaces and a few unexpected treasures behind those heritage facades.
It’s an easy place to wander without a plan, stopping for a browse, a coffee or a chat with a local along the way.
Longford is well placed for a relaxed bakery stop, pub lunch or meal in a heritage setting. JJ’s Bakery is a familiar local stop and a handy place to pick up visitor information while you are there. Around town, you will also find casual cafés, takeaway options and country pub meals.
For dining beyond the town centre, check current options at Woolmers Estate or visit a nearby vineyard by appointment.
Spend a relaxing afternoon tasting the local plonk at Valleyfield Vineyard, the home of Bell & Gong.
Christ Church is one of Longford’s most recognisable landmarks. Construction began in 1839, and the sandstone church was completed during the early 1840s.
Inside, the five-light chancel window was designed by colonial architect William Archer and made by stained-glass artist William Wailes in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1842. It is recognised as Tasmania’s oldest stained-glass church window. Outside, the historic burial ground, lychgate and old trees add another layer to the site’s story.
The cemetery at Christ Church is the final resting place of many early settlers. It’s fascinating to read the old headstones and imagine what life would have been like for the people buried there. To learn more about the area’s colonial history, pick up a copy of Voices from the Graves and ‘hear’ moving stories from two people resting in this graveyard.
Brickendon offers a different view of the region’s convict and agricultural history. Its 1820s farm village includes timber barns, a Gothic chapel, a blacksmith’s shop, cookhouse and other working-farm buildings.
The estate is still owned and farmed by descendants of the Archer family, who settled the property in 1824. Visitors can also explore its heritage gardens, meet farm animals and stay in historic cottages.
Woolmers Estate is part of the UNESCO Australian Convict Sites World Heritage property and preserves one of Australia’s most significant colonial rural landscapes.
Visitors can explore heritage buildings, the National Rose Garden and the Unshackled digital exhibition, with guided experiences also available. The estate now promotes 18 heritage buildings and a broader combined experience with Brickendon.
The two estates are connected by a 2.8-kilometre heritage trail and suspension bridge. A combined ticket currently provides access to both sites, 38 heritage buildings, the Unshackled exhibition and the connecting walk.
The National Rose Garden at Woolmers is at its liveliest from late spring into summer, with thousands of roses growing across the historic estate.
Longford also hosts garden events and open gardens at different times of year. Check the current events calendar before travelling, as dates and participating gardens change.
Longford’s river edges offer a quieter side of town. Pack something from a local bakery, find a place beside the water and slow the day down with a picnic or short walk.
The rivers and surrounding wetlands are also good places to look for birdlife and photograph the changing light across the rural landscape.
Longford’s quiet country roads once formed one of Australia’s most formidable motor racing circuits.
Between 1953 and 1968, the 7.2-kilometre road circuit hosted major races and drivers including Jack Brabham, Bruce McLaren, Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart. Parts of the former circuit remain driveable, including the Flying Mile, where racing speeds reached around 288 kilometres per hour. Today’s speed limits are rather less dramatic.
The Longford Velodrome, also known as the Kearney Cycling Centre, is a modern outdoor track available for public use when it has not been booked for an event.
The adjoining skate park makes this a useful stop for families travelling with bikes, scooters or skateboards. Public toilets are available, and bookings can be checked with Northern Midlands Council.
Longford works well as more than a quick stop. Stay in a heritage bed and breakfast, settle into a country inn or spend the night in a historic cottage at Woolmers or Brickendon.
There is also caravan accommodation near town for travellers following the Heritage Highway.
A night in Longford gives you time to explore both World Heritage estates without rushing and see the town once the day-trippers have moved on.
Skulduggery is a detective game for those who dare to cast a magnifying glass over three true 19th century crimes. Where There’s Smoke… is based in Longford—will you solve the mystery and work out who destroyed Joseph Archer’s wheat stacks? The games are available from the Northern Midlands Council (13 Smith Street, Longford) and some Visitor Information Centres.
Yes. Longford is known for its Georgian streetscape, motor racing history and nearby UNESCO World Heritage convict sites, Woolmers and Brickendon. It is an easy day trip from Launceston and also works well as an overnight stop on the Heritage Highway.
Longford is about 22 kilometres south of Launceston, or roughly 20 minutes by car. It is also around 17 minutes from Launceston Airport, depending on traffic and route.
Allow at least half a day to walk around town and visit Christ Church. Set aside a full day if you plan to explore Woolmers Estate, Brickendon and the walk connecting them.
Highlights include Woolmers Estate, Brickendon Historic Farm Village, the heritage walk through town, Christ Church, the National Rose Garden and the remains of the Longford Grand Prix circuit.
Yes. A 2.8-kilometre trail and suspension bridge connect the two World Heritage estates. Admission conditions apply, so check current ticket and access information before visiting.
Yes. Families can explore Brickendon’s farm village and animals, picnic beside the river, visit the skate park or velodrome and follow the town’s heritage and motor racing stories.
Longford can be visited year-round. Spring and early summer are best for roses and gardens, autumn is particularly good for photography and winter suits quiet heritage stays and uncrowded exploring.
The Hobart and Beyond Editorial Team is dedicated to bringing you the best insider tips, local stories, and up-to-date guides to exploring southern Tasmania.
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