The Royal Australian Air Force training base at Mallala was acquired in April 1961 to hold that year’s Australian Grand Prix. The venue was quickly redeveloped with a permanent 2.1-mile layout, and a test event was held before Lex Davison won the GP for the fourth time. South Australia law prohibited paying sporting events on a Sunday at the time although sponsorship from Craven A cigarettes helped the shortfall. The track had broken up during early meetings, so it was shortened and resurfaced in 1964 with the pits moved and northern loop bypassed. It had held the one-off Australian Touring Car Championship race in 1963 and Mallala was part of the championship schedule when it adopted a multi-round format in 1969. However, it was acquired by Surfers Paradise Raceway owner Keith Williams in 1971 who closed the facility so he could concentrate on his new circuit venture outside Adelaide. Reopened by former driver Clem Smith in 1980, Smith set about improving facilities during that decade and the ATCC returned to Mallala from 1989 until the series switched to the Adelaide Parklands Circuit in 1999.
