Earlier this month, members of the 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment (51FNQR) marked the opening of a new yarning circle at Porton Barracks in North Queensland with a smoking ceremony.

The ceremony, led by local Gimuy Walubara man Jiritju Fourmile, was attended by soldiers and community members.

Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Schieb, Commanding Officer of 51FNQR, emphasised that the yarning circle would serve as an important gathering place for the unit's more than 200 Indigenous soldiers, especially new recruits.

"We have a diverse workforce, and one of the important parts of the cultural melting pot that is the battalion is the opportunity for everyone to sit down and have a yarn," Lieutenant Colonel Schieb said.

"Having a yarning circle of our own, here on Porton, gives us a culturally appropriate space where we can work through issues and mix all of our cultural perspectives together."

The yarning circle, constructed during NAIDOC week, was built with the help of 19 Indigenous recruits preparing for basic training.

Seats around the circle were made from stumps of paperbark trees, which were felled earlier on the barracks.

Paperbark trees are significant to the local Indigenous community for their use in shelter and medicinal practices.

The unit also plans to have Gimuy-Walubara elder Uncle Henrik Fourmile complete a tree carving near the circle, a traditional method of preserving and sharing stories.