Longford, Tasmania

thumb|Street map of Longford

Longford is a town in the northern midlands of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 145 m above sea level at the convergence of the Macquarie River and the South Esk River, 21 km south of Launceston and a 15-minute drive from the airport. It is just south of the Illawarra Road, a road connecting the Bass and Midland Highways. It has a population of 3,863 (2016 census) during his overland journey from Launceston to Hobart.

Settlers started to arrive in 1807 as farmers were moved from Norfolk Island to Van Diemen's Land (the original name used by Europeans for Tasmania). Governor Macquarie granted land rights to the settlers, who originally called the area Norfolk Plains. The town, originally called Latour, grew up around the hotel (later known as the Longford Hotel) which was built in 1827 by Newman Williatt. In 1833 the town was renamed Longford,

Settlers used free convict labour to build some fine houses and estates.

Prominent among the early settlers, the Archer family built a number of grand houses and estates in the area. Six generations of Archers have lived in Woolmers, from 1817 to 1994; it is now owned by the Woolmers Foundation Inc and is open to the public.

Norfolk Plains Post Office opened on 1 June 1832 and was renamed Longford in 1856.

Adjacent to a 21st-century recreation ground is the remains of a dam. This dam, known as the Longford Mill Dam, was built in the 1840s by John Badcock to power a flour Mill at nearby Newry.

Historic buildings

thumb|right|Woolmers, near Longford

thumb|right|Panshanger, near Longford

thumb|right|Heritage Corner, from the early 1830s

thumb|right|Brown's Big Store, 1889

Longford district has many buildings included on the Tasmanian Heritage Register. Many significant historic buildings were constructed between 1830 and 1850, including:

Christ Church (1839), sandstone, with square tower, lancet windows and buttresses, in the Old Colonial Gothick Picturesque style. The church clock and bell were both gifts from King George IV. The land on which it stands is named Illawarra because of Lucy Margaretta Davey, the daughter of Lt Governor Mad Tom Davey.
Queen's Arms Hotel (1835), a double-storey brick and stuccoed building in the Old Colonial Georgian style
Blenheim Hotel (1846), a two-storey Georgian brick and stuccoed building and a major townscape element in Longford
Tattersalls Hotel (now Longford Library) (), a two-storey red brick corner building with neo-classic moulded surrounds to doorways
The Racecourse Hotel (1838) (former), a two-storey brick Georgian coaching inn, originally built to become the railway station for Longford; has also been a private hospital. It is now a B&B.

Facilities

Longford has a Service Tasmania shop, supermarkets, a bakery, a butcher's shop, two banks, a post office, antique shops, hotels, cafés, take-aways, hairdressers and service stations. A kindergarten and large primary school provide education for younger children; secondary students travel to the District High School in Cressy or to one of the schools in Launceston.

The town has a sports centre and a bowls club. Two local bus companies provide transport to school and to Launceston. Longford public library is part of the State Library of Tasmania's statewide public library network and is open every weekday.

Healthcare is provided by local doctors and dentists. Toosey Memorial Hospital provided private healthcare from the 1920s and became a public hospital in 1950. However, in 1990 it became a residential care centre for elderly people, and the nearest hospital is now in Launceston.

Employment

In the , the most common industries of employment for Longford residents were: The plant processes 450 beef and 1500 smallstock per day and employs 460. Tasmania is the only Australian state that has banned the use of Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGPs) in cattle, so the plant guarantees its products are free of HGP.

Selborne Biological Services runs a biotechnology manufacturing facility in Longford, producing bovine serum and other blood products such as polyclonal antisera and protein fractions, destined for the biotech, pharmaceutical, veterinary, and diagnostics industries. They take advantage of the fact that Tasmania is free of BSE and scrapie. For the same reasons, International Therapeutic Proteins has farms with manufacturing facility for antitoxins and other biologics in Longford.

Koppers Inc has a wood treatment plant in Longford. The company produces treated wood poles, piling timbers and other timber for outdoor use.

Other local employers include Longford Brickworks, an Agricultural Machinery business called Agline, Longford Sawmill, and service industry jobs. Many people commute to work in Launceston.

Recreation

Racecourse

The Longford Racecourse is the oldest continuously operating racecourse in Australia.

Longford Show

The annual Longford Show was first held in 1858 and is one of the longest running rural shows in Australia. Held in October, it attracts between 7000 and 8000 people. It includes equestrian events, poultry and dog shows, chopping and tree felling, sheep and fleeces, rides and games, as well as displays of artwork from local schools.

Longford motor racing circuit

From 1953 to 1968, two Australian Grand Prix, several Tasman Cup races and touring car and motorcycle championship were organized on the Longford Circuit.

Longford Golf Club

Longford has a popular golf course south of the town, with eleven holes, seven of which have alternate tees.

Woodstock Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary

Woodstock Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary is a natural wetland area which is a nesting and breeding sanctuary for waterfowl. Its total area is around 160 ha.

Notable residents

Born in Longford

Numerous members of the Archer family, politicians and local landowners
John Lake Allen Arthur, Tasmanian cricketer, was born in Longford in 1847 and died there in 1877
Richard Flanagan (born 1961), an author, historian and film director
William Hartnoll (1841–1932), Australian politician
Sir Norman Henry Denham Henty, KBE (1903–1978), Australian politician
Mary Stewart Kilgour (1851–1955), suffragist and writer was born in Longford
Walter Lee, three-time Premier of Tasmania
David John O'Keefe (1864–1943), Australian politician
Katharine Parker (1886–1971), an Australian composer, born at Lake River near Longford
Dame Florence "Flora" Reid GBE (1867–1950), the wife of the Prime Minister of Australia Sir George Reid
Albert Solomon, one of the Premiers of Tasmania, who was in office from 1912 to 1914
Raymond Gordon Stokes (1924–2017), a former Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the VFL
Chayce Jones (born 2000), a current Australian rules footballer who is playing with Adelaide in the AFL

Died in Longford

Tom Roberts, the Australian impressionist artist, is buried at the bluestone Anglican Church on the Illawarra Road
Catherine Smith (née Keane), born 19 April 1832 in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, arrived in Van Diemen's Land in 1849. Died in Longford, 1925. Believed to be the last remaining Tasmanian convict of the transportation era at the time of her death.