1949-1965

17th Construction Squadron was raised out of the Eastern Command Maintenance Squadron on 20 September 1949. The Squadron was located at Kingsford, NSW, and 8 Troop was located in the Moore Park area.

During the period between 1950 and 1965 the Squadron carried out considerable construction and relief tasks both within Australia and overseas. The Squadron was involved in the construction of the Woomera Rocket Range from 1950 to 1954. In 1953 it was also involved in the site construction for project "Two Zero", an atomic weapons test site. This involved the detonation of the first atomic weapon exploded on the Australian mainland, which took place in October 1953. The Squadron had been involved from January until October preparing the site.

In 1960, a large element of the Squadron was deployed to New Hebrides to help restore Port Vila after it was struck by a cyclone. Other overseas deployments included construction and road building tasks in Vanimo and Passam in Papua New Guinea.

1966-1971

The most significant part of squadron history was its involvement in the South Vietnam conflict. The Squadron was in South Vietnam from 1966 to 1971 and was involved in a wide variety of engineering tasks.

Early tasks included clearing and sustainment operations. The construction of helipads and land marking operations were common tasks carried out by Plant Troop. In 1967 the Squadron completed a 300 000 gallon dam. This provided the Australian contingent with an alternate water supply.

At Nui Dat the Squadron set up a large quarrying operation in early 1968. By the time the Squadron ceased operations in the province, they had produced approximately 500 000 tons of rock. This material was used in conjunction with locally won sand for the construction of bricks for civil aid housing and protective cover for freshly primed roads. One particular operation, codenamed 'Cooktown Orchard', saw a large element of Plant Troop deploy under infantry and armoured protection to clear undergrowth and trees in the foothills of the Long Hai mountains. During this operation one D8 bulldozer was destroyed, and a Sapper injured when an RPG round hit the dozer he was operating.

In 1969 the Squadron continued with land clearing tasks within the Task Force Area of Operations. During the operation, numerous bunker systems were uncovered and the D8 dozers detonated many mines. In August 1969, 9 Troop assisted in replacing a sabotaged bridge with a 206 foot floating pontoon bridge. The enemy had blown the bridge on the National Highway, 40 miles southeast of Saigon. The troop, working with the US Engineers, took only 13 hours to re-open the road. 1970 saw the Squadron heavily committed to Project 393, the civil aid program involving the construction of housing for Regional Force soldiers and their families throughout the province. The Squadron built a total of 410 houses at sites such as Baria, An Nhuit, Dat Do, Ong Trinh and Duc Thanh.

On 20 September 1970 the unit celebrated its 21st birthday. It was at this time that the unit adopted the 'Little Bear' symbol and the motto, 'A Little Bear will Fix It', which is well known on Norton's Bear Brand Tape.

From late 1970 to 1971 the Squadron was heavily involved in major road works projects throughout the province. Late in 1971 the Squadron returned from Vietnam and moved to Enoggera, Queensland.

1972-1973

The decade of the 1970s saw the demise of the Squadron. In February 1972, the Squadron became 17th Field Squadron, as part of 2nd Field Engineer Regiment. While part of the Regiment, the Squadron completed construction works in Tully. These works included PR projects including works on Tully hospital, schools, golf and bowling clubs.

In mid 1973, 17th Field Squadron merged with 7th Field Squadron, and the number 17th consequently vanished from the RAE ORBAT. The unit remained disbanded until 1977.

1977-1988

In August 1977 the 17th Construction Squadron was re-raised at Gallipoli Lines, Holsworthy. The inceptive commander was Major J.F. Koek. Much of 1978 was spent setting up the Squadron area and procuring equipment. In the first six months of 1978 the Squadron completed no less than 120 small construction tasks for surrounding units in the Holsworthy area.

In 1979, 17th Construction Squadron was placed on stand-by for service in Namibia. Operational readiness planning took up a large slice of the Squadron's effort although construction tasks were still completed.

Throughout the 1980s, the Squadron became heavily involved in the Defence Co-operation Program. Tasks were conducted in Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, which gave the Squadron excellent experience in deploying part of the unit overseas for construction tasks. Tasks carried out in the Holsworthy area were the construction of the Holsworthy range road, the Holsworthy Range Control facility, the SME Museum upgrade and numerous Lysaght buildings. A detachment supported 22nd Construction Squadron in the construction of facilities for the Special Air Service Regiment.

1989

Having been on stand-by since 1979, the Squadron finally deployed to Namibia in April 1989 as part of the United Nations Operation UNTAG. The entire Squadron was deployed along with a Field Engineer troop from 7th Field Squadron. There were two rotations during the deployment, each of six months duration.

During the first rotation, the Squadron was involved in a wide variety of tasks including the development of Returnee Reception centres for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and tasks at the Rundu air base, which included a movement facility and helipads. The Squadron was also occupied with route and mine clearance.

The second rotation provided support to the elections that were conducted in November 1989. The construction of the UN police monitor stations was essential in the UN's plan for controlling the elections. The Squadron also conducted other tasks such as the construction of a school building for one of the local schools, and the upgrade and maintenance of roads and hard-stands in the area.

The second rotation returned to Australia in February 1990. The Squadron for their efforts in Namibia received many letters of commendation and appreciation.

1990-present

The 1990's saw the Squadron involved in the biggest project ever to be undertaken by the Royal Australian Engineers. The construction of RAAF Base Scherger, located near Weipa in far north Queensland, began in February 1993. The task drew very heavily on the Squadron's personnel and resources, with three rotations each year. The Squadron's involvement with the project was complete by the end of 1996, with ongoing refurbishment throughout 1997.

In 1996, Prime Minister John Howard committed Australian Army resources to improve health related infrastructure in remote Aboriginal communities.

The projects, known as the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Commission Army Community Assistance Project (later changed to Program) (AACAP), were initiated in 1997 by 17th Construction Squadron in the Bulla community, vicinity Timber Creek in the Northern Territory.

The Squadron has been responsible for AACAPs at

• Bulla, NT (1997);
• Oak Valley, SA (1998);
• Docker River, NT (1998);
• Jumbun, Qld (1999);
• Yarralin/Lingara and Mialuni, NT (2001);
• Palm Island, Qld (2003); and
• Fitzroy Crossing, WA (2005).

At the completion of AACAP Jumbun in 1999 the Sqn was deployed at short notice to participate in Operation Warden as part of the International Force East Timor (INTEFET). Some of the key Sqn activities in East Timor included the construction of the Dili sewage ponds, the extension and resurfacing of the Suai airstrip, drainage works in Dili, the Dili heliport, force water points and support to other units. The Sqn was on operations for approximately 5 months.

The Squadron continues to participate in AACAPs and remains on a short readiness to support operations.