Drawing its lineage from the 3rd Australian General Hospital, which was raised for service during World War I, the unit was tasked with providing Role 2 health support to troops deployed overseas on operations and within Australia on exercise and provided medical personnel for a variety deployments in the post-war period, including those to Rwanda, Bougainville, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.

[4] While it was designated primarily as a Reserve unit, 3 HSB had a small cadre of Regular Army personnel who were tasked with administration and training.

[4][5] The unit traces its lineage back to the 3rd Australian General Hospital (3 AGH) that was established during the early years of World War I.

During the Gallipoli Campaign, 3 AGH served on Lemnos Island before moving to Egypt in January 1916, having treated 7,400 patients.

[8][9] On 17 December 1997, 3 FGH was placed under the command of Headquarters Logistic Support Force (now 17th Sustainment Brigade).