Bunbury's estimated resident population (2004) - 31,314

The City of Bunbury is the commercial and residential heart of the prosperous South West Region of Western Australia, one of the most diverse and dynamic growth region's in the nation.

A port city located 175 kilometres south of the Perth metropolitan region, Bunbury ranks in the top 10 ports in Australia by tonnage.

Bunbury is a great option for international students. It is a town that offers everything that the big cities have without the hassle of living in big metropolitan areas such as traffic jams, higher cost of living and overcrowded public transport.

Bunbury is a "5 minutes town", you can get anywhere in the town in a short 5 minutes drive. The university campus, the beach, shoppings, cinemas, sports centre, pubs and night clubs are all conveniently located with lots of parking.

You can choose to live in our modern Student Village with other students or you can rent your own place in town or even share an accommodation with other students. The university have as exclusive notice board in building 1 dedicated to the offers of share accommodation and private rentals, there are always heaps of offers there.

Entertainment
The South West Region of Western Australia has an array of cultural facilities that attract high quality local and international performance and art.

The region is also well catered for with a diverse range of community, recreation and sporting facilities and activities, including international hocky fields in Bunbury and Busselton.

Bunbury Regional Art Galleries - the architecture of the historic galleries building (built in 1897 as a convent school) is as much an attraction as the many interesting works that are part of the ever changing local, State and National exhibitions.

The Bunbury Entertainment Centre provides a theatre venue of outstanding standards and attracts many international and national theatre productions as well as supporting local theatre groups. It is home to one of Australia's biggest regional Eisteddfods.

• Cinemas.
• Regional museum, galleries and festivals.
• Active community art, theatre and historical societies.
• Active sporting clubs.
• Sporting centres and swimming pools (outdoor and indoor).
• Walking and cycle trials.
• Golf courses.
• Public art.

The South West Region

The South West Region of Western Australia faces the Indian and Southern Oceans in the beautiful South West corner of the State, and is only a short two hours drive from Perth.

The region covers 12 local government areas and is divided into three sub regions - Bunbury Wellington (Preston), Vasse and Warren Blackwood.

• Principal urban centres: Greater Bunbury, Busselton, Collie, and Manjimup.
• Local government areas: City of Bunbury and the shires of Harvey, Dardanup, Capel, Busselton, Augusta-Margaret River, Nannup, Donnybrook-Balingup, Collie, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Boyup Brook, and Manjimup.

Climate and Geography
The South West Region of Western Australia covers an area of 23 970 square kilometers and geographically is one of the smallest of the State's nine regions.

A typically Mediterranean climate is experienced, with dry summer months and generally high rainfall during winter. Most of the region receives 900mm of rain, or 120 to 150 wet days a year, mostly between May and September.

Soils along the coastal plains are basically sands, with some pockets of heavier loams especially near Bunbury and Busselton. The inland plateaus provide considerable areas of heavy red loams and darker alluvial soils on old valley floors.

Mineralisation in the region is extensive with heavy mineral sands; coal; tin, tantalite and lithium; kaolin and clay slate; silica sand; aggregate, sand and limestone being minable resources in the region.

The natural vegetation of the South West ranges from hardy coastal shrubs, through pockets of rich wetland marshes, to karri forests where the trees are hundreds of years old.

The South West has over half of Western Australia's forests.

Population
Currently more than 123 000 people live in the region and with a growth rate three times that of the national average the South West has one of the fastest growing populations of regional Western Australia.

By 2011 it is anticipated that 157 300 people will make the region their home.

Economy
The South West has the most diverse regional economy of Western Australia. Extensive mineral wealth has made the region a major world producer of alumina and mineral sands. Our economy is also based on strong agricultural and horticultural industries, timber and forest products, viticulture, retailing and tourism.

Attractions including national parks, ancient forests, beaches, wineries and eco-tourism sites have credited the South West Region as the most popular tourist destination outside Perth.

Partly sourced from: http://www.swdc.wa.gov.au/

Maps

• Bunbury stree directory
• South West's detailed map
• Bunbury Webcam

Local directory

• www.mysouthwest.com.au

Links:

• West Coast International College of English
• Links collection about Bunbury and the South West region