WA Coroners Court – Bunbury Courthouse List Today

The Coroner's Court at Bunbury Courthouse handles coronial matters for the South West region of Western Australia, sitting at 3 Stephen Street, Bunbury WA 6230. When a reportable death occurs anywhere across the Greater Bunbury area or the wider South West, the coronial process may be dealt with locally through this courthouse, with a Coroner presiding over inquests and directing investigations into how and why a person died. This page brings together the daily coronial list, sitting details, and background on how the jurisdiction operates so families, legal practitioners, journalists, and members of the public can follow proceedings with clarity.

Bunbury is the third most populous city in Western Australia, with a 2021 population of around 76,452 people and a role as the administrative heart of the South West. Sitting roughly 175 kilometres south of Perth, the courthouse on Stephen Street is a key regional venue where magistrates also sit as coroners for local matters, while the more complex inquests are frequently listed here on circuit before a metropolitan Coroner. Because coronial work touches families at one of the most difficult moments in their lives, having an accessible, transparent daily list matters to the community it serves.

What the Coroner's Court at Bunbury does

The Coroner's Court is a specialist jurisdiction that investigates certain categories of death rather than deciding criminal guilt or awarding damages. A coronial investigation is a fact-finding exercise. Its purpose is to establish the identity of the deceased, and where possible, how the death occurred, the cause of death, and the particulars needed to register the death. Importantly, the coronial system is not designed to apportion blame. It exists to record the circumstances accurately and, through that process, to help prevent similar deaths in the future.

Under the Coroners Act 1996 (WA), a death is reportable in a range of situations, including where the death appears to have been unexpected, violent, unnatural, or the result of an accident or injury; where the cause of death is unknown; where the person died during or as a result of an anaesthetic; or where the person was a "person held in care" such as a prisoner, an involuntary mental health patient, or a child subject to a protection order. Every member of the Western Australia Police Force is, in effect, a coroner's investigator, and much of the initial evidence gathering at the scene is carried out by police on behalf of the Coroner.

How a death moves through the coronial system

When a reportable death occurs in the South West, it is reported to the Coroner and an investigation begins. The Coroner reviews reports and evidentiary material, considers whether the matter is in fact a reportable death, decides whether further evidence should be gathered, and then makes findings where possible on how the death occurred and its cause. Forensic pathologists at PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA prepare post-mortem reports, and toxicologists at ChemCentre provide analysis where drugs or other substances may be relevant. These external agencies feed critical information back to the Coroner.

Most coronial matters are finalised without a public hearing. In the 2024/25 reporting year, Coroners across Western Australia finalised 3,360 cases, and 98% of these were completed by way of an administrative finding made in chambers, with the remaining 2% finalised by inquest. An administrative finding is provided to the next of kin but is otherwise confidential, whereas an inquest is a public court hearing. For families in Bunbury and the South West, this means the large majority of investigations are resolved on the papers rather than through a formal hearing at the courthouse.

Post-mortem examinations and family rights

A post-mortem examination is a detailed medical examination undertaken to help investigate the death. Under the Coroners Act, except where a Coroner decides an examination must be performed immediately, the senior next of kin may object to a post-mortem. Where the least invasive appropriate procedure can be used, a forensic pathologist may recommend an external examination supported by medical records and toxicology instead of a full internal examination. Across Western Australia in 2024/25, there were 3,318 reported deaths, 55 immediate post-mortems, and 1,007 pathologist-recommended external examinations, reflecting a deliberate effort to balance investigative need with respect for families and cultural sensitivities.

Inquests at Bunbury Courthouse

An inquest is a court hearing presided over by a Coroner that examines the circumstances surrounding a death in open court. Inquests are conducted in accordance with the principles of open justice and procedural fairness, and are generally open to the public. Coronial inquests are periodically listed at Court 3, Bunbury Courthouse, allowing South West matters to be heard closer to the affected community rather than requiring everyone to travel to Perth. This regional listing practice reflects the reality that Bunbury serves as a circuit hub for several WA jurisdictions.

Inquests are mandatory in defined circumstances. These include deaths of persons held in care, deaths that appear to have been caused or contributed to by any action of a police officer, and the suspected deaths of missing persons where the State Coroner directs an investigation. In 2024/25, there were 56 investigations finalised by inquest statewide, of which 49 (around 87%) were inquests mandated by law and 7 were discretionary. Within an inquest, a Coroner may comment on any matter connected with the death, including public health, safety, or the administration of justice, and may make recommendations aimed at avoiding similar deaths.

Why the daily list matters

The daily court list tells you which matters are being dealt with, before which Coroner, and at what time. For legal representatives, it confirms appearances and hearing schedules. For families, it provides certainty about when their loved one's matter will be heard. For journalists reporting in the public interest, it is the starting point for coverage that respects the dignity of the deceased. Checking the current list also helps avoid unnecessary trips to the courthouse, which is particularly valuable across a region as geographically spread as the South West.

Coronial workload and trends in Western Australia

The scale of coronial work in Western Australia has grown considerably. Reportable deaths rose from 2,942 in 2020/21 to 3,318 in 2024/25, and the Coroner's Court has noted a 64% increase in reportable deaths over the past decade. This growth places sustained pressure on investigation timelines, particularly where the court is waiting on toxicology and post-mortem reports from external agencies before a finding can be made.

The clearance rate, which compares incoming reportable deaths with the number of finalisations, sat at 98.7% in 2024/25, meaning the court finalised slightly fewer cases than were reported that year. The backlog, defined as any investigation older than 12 months from the date the death was reported, increased to 1,049 cases in 2024/25, up around 30% on the previous year. Of the files closed during the year, 57.3% were finalised in under 12 months, while 42.7% were older than 12 months at closure. These figures underline how dependent the coronial process is on timely input from forensic and investigative partners.

Findings on the manner of death

When a Coroner records how a death occurred, the finding falls into recognised categories. For 2024/25 across Western Australia, findings included 563 accidents, 404 suicides, 213 natural causes recorded in the standard category, 108 open findings, 56 unlawful homicides, and 17 cases of misadventure, alongside large numbers recorded under specific statutory provisions for natural-cause deaths. Coroners also made 56 formal recommendations during the year, and responses to those recommendations are published on the Coroner's Court website, forming an important part of the court's death-prevention role.

Support for families and cultural safety

The coronial system recognises that the Coroner's involvement usually comes at a time of intense grief and loss. The Coronial Counselling and Information Service (CCIS) provides initial support and counselling to anyone coming into contact with the coronial system, explains the process including the right to object to a post-mortem, and keeps next of kin informed about how a case is progressing. The service recorded 12,539 contacts in 2024/25, its highest figure in five years. The CCIS is available Monday to Friday during court business hours and can also facilitate culturally relevant support.

The Coroner's Court acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands and waterways across Western Australia and has committed to improving access to its services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. During 2024/25 a new Senior Aboriginal Liaison Officer position was funded and created to support Aboriginal families in contact with the court and to help ensure services are culturally sensitive and culturally safe. For the South West and its significant Noongar community, this focus on culturally responsive service is directly relevant to matters listed at Bunbury.

Getting to and contacting Bunbury Courthouse

Bunbury Courthouse is located at 3 Stephen Street, Bunbury WA 6230, in the city's central business district and within walking distance of the town's main civic and retail precinct. The general courthouse telephone line is (08) 9781 4200. As with other WA courthouses, the building hosts several jurisdictions, so it is worth confirming which court and courtroom your matter is listed in before attending. Coronial inquests are typically listed in Court 3. For anyone travelling from surrounding South West towns such as Busselton, Harvey, Collie, or Donnybrook, checking the online list first can save a long round trip.

If you are following criminal or civil matters at the same venue, you can review the current Bunbury Magistrates Court list for daily hearings, or view the regional District Court sittings at Bunbury where trials and sentencing are held. Families and practitioners with matters listed in the capital can also access the Perth Coroners Court at the Central Law Courts, and a full directory of venues across the state is available on the Western Australia court lists hub.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Coroner's Court in Bunbury located?

Coronial matters in the South West are dealt with through Bunbury Courthouse at 3 Stephen Street, Bunbury WA 6230, with inquests typically listed in Court 3. The general courthouse phone number is (08) 9781 4200.

Are coronial inquests at Bunbury open to the public?

Yes. Inquests are court hearings conducted under the principles of open justice and procedural fairness, and they are generally open to the public. Administrative findings made in chambers, however, are confidential and provided to the next of kin.

What deaths must be reported to the Coroner?

Under the Coroners Act 1996 (WA), reportable deaths include those that are unexpected, violent, or unnatural, deaths from accident or injury, deaths where the cause is unknown, deaths during an anaesthetic, and all deaths of persons held in care such as prisoners and involuntary mental health patients.

How long does a coronial investigation take?

Timeframes vary widely. In 2024/25, 57.3% of files across Western Australia were finalised in under 12 months, while 42.7% were older than 12 months at closure, largely because the Coroner often waits on toxicology and post-mortem reports from external agencies before making a finding.

Can a family object to a post-mortem examination?

Yes. Except where a Coroner decides an examination must be performed immediately, the senior next of kin may object to a post-mortem. Where appropriate, a forensic pathologist may recommend a less invasive external examination supported by medical records and toxicology.

Where can I find the outcome of an inquest?

Inquest findings and any responses to a Coroner's recommendations are published on the website of the Coroner's Court of Western Australia. For daily hearing schedules, the current Bunbury coronial list on this page is the quickest way to see what is being heard and when.