Members of a visiting Vietnam veterans group enjoyed their time in the Wangaratta area last week.

The Headquarters of the 1st Australian Task Force (HQ1ATF) reunion was held in the rural city, and culminated in a service at the Wangaratta Cenotaph on Thursday evening, followed by a commemorative dinner at the Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway.

About 80 people travelled to Wangaratta for the four-day reunion, which also saw members enjoy activities across the district including tours of wineries and places of interest such as the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club memorial in the King Valley.

The 1st Australian Task Force, whose headquarters is referred to as HQ1ATF, played its role in the Vietnam War between April, 1966 and October, 1971.

Established as a brigade-sized formation, to replace the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) which had been in Vietnam since 1965, its main base was at Nui Dat in Phuoc Tuy Province, with a separate logistical support group based in Vung Tau.

HQ1ATF was responsible for commanding Australian and New Zealand forces in the area, including infantry battalions, artillery and armoured units, and was involved in numerous operations and significant battles.

While under national command from Headquarters Australian Force Vietnam (HQAFV) in Saigon, 1ATF was operationally commanded by the US Army's II Field Force Vietnam (HQ II FFV).

Its primary mission was to secure Phuoc Tuy Province, a task that involved both combat operations and civil affairs activities, and to operate in conjunction with US and other allied forces.

1ATF was involved in many key battles of the war, including the Battle of Long Tan in 1966, Operation Bribie, and Operation Coburg in 1968.

The Nui Dat base was developed over time to include an airstrip (Luscombe Field) and landing zones, and became a secure hub for the task force's operations.

Its headquarters frequently deployed away from its base for specific operations, such as the reconnaissance-in-force operation in the Thua Tich area in 1967.

The task force was withdrawn from Vietnam in October, 1971, when the Nui Dat base was handed over to the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.