Investing in Bunbury

Bunbury is the commercial centre of the South West: a deep-water port, a hospital and university campus, and the first proper city on the drive from Perth to Margaret River. Investment decisions here are usually about one of three things — industry around the harbour, the visitor economy, or housing for a growing regional population.

What the city is built on

The Port of Bunbury is the industrial anchor. Bulk commodities move through it, and that supports transport, storage and trades work that does not disappear when the school holidays end. Healthcare and education are the other year-round employers. Tourism sits on top of that base: dolphins, beaches, and the fact that Bunbury is cheaper and more practical than staying in the wine region for many Perth weekenders. See working in Bunbury for the employment picture.

Visitor and hospitality businesses

Accommodation, restaurants and tours track the same calendar as the rest of coastal WA — busy from November to Easter, quieter in winter, tightest over long weekends. The accommodation guide explains which parts of town visitors actually want (waterfront first, then the CBD, then Back Beach). Listings on this site are editorial and free; contact us if a business should be added or corrected.

Housing and the wider region

Demand follows jobs and lifestyle. People who work in Bunbury but want more space look north to Australind and Eaton, or treat the city as a base and drive to the day-trip towns. Anyone considering a development or a commercial site should start with the City of Bunbury and the South West Development Commission — this page is a visitor guide, not planning advice.

New to the city? Read about Bunbury and living in Bunbury first.