Bunbury Regional Prison (Bunbury) opened in 1971 and comprised three accommodation units (Units 1, 2 and 3). Unit 5 was added a decade later as a minimum-security unit located just outside the main prison for up to 37 prisoners. In November 2008, a 72-bed Pre-release Unit (PRU) opened, which has increased to 144 beds to manage the crowding crisis affecting the prison estate. This is a minimum-security stand-alone facility located a short distance up the hill from the main prison. In October 2019, a 160-bed, medium-security unit (Unit 6) opened. This Unit is situated within the main prison.
Bunbury had been through a period of significant expansion since our last inspection in 2017. When we inspected Bunbury in July 2020 there were 478 prisoners accommodated there.