The town was known by a number of names before adopting the title of Longford in 1833. It sits at the confluence of the Macquarie and South Esk rivers.

Longford is known for its many convict-built houses - farmers were provided with free convict labour and used this to create grand reminders of their English heritage. Christ Church is the site of the First Settlers Cemetery. A local arboretum once aspired to represent every tree mentioned in the Bible.

Longford still has the bucolic air of a 19^th century country village. Three early free-settler estates - Woolmers (1816), Panshangar (1821) and Brickendon (1824) - were developed by the dynastic Archer family, who arrived in 1813 from Hertfordshire and whose descendants still farm the area today.

Woolmers is regarded as the most authentic remaining example of an Australian pioneer farm. More recently it has established a National Rose Garden, with more than 4,000 roses on display.

Nearby are antique galleries, a good bakery, and art and craft shops, including one that specialises in dolls' houses and miniatures.