Bunbury, the City of Three Waters, is a vibrant seaside port city surrounded by beautiful waterways perfect for your next commercial filming project.
The city’s rhythm is laid-back and low key yet at the same time edgy with an impressive arts scene, massive events calendar, and an ever-growing collection of independent boutiques, small bars, and cafes.
Unearth its rich blend of history, fascinating marine life (it’s home to more than 150 wild dolphins), and unforgettable natural experiences - many situated within walking distance from the city centre.
With breath taking landscapes and unique backdrops, Bunbury is an ideal destination for commercial filming.
The City of Bunbury is committed to supporting the film and television industry and is proud to be fully accredited as a film-friendly location. We welcome all types of commercial filming in the Bunbury Geographe region including, but not limited to:
- Advertising
- Documentaries and educational programs
- Tourism promotion material
As part of our commitment, our team can provide the following assistance to production companies:
- Discuss film location options for your production
- Assistance in booking a Council-owned places/spaces
- Assistance in applying for and obtaining relevant permits
- Provide information on Council-funding programs
- Provide options and referrals on local contacts, businesses, entertainment and activities
To discuss your film project and other film related enquiries, please contact the City of Bunbury Place Activation Team on 08 9792 7000 or email info@bunbury.wa.gov.au
To obtain a permit to film in Bunbury, please complete and submit a film application via the link below.
Film Asset Database
If you have a home, vehicle or item that is worth featuring in a film, add it to our database, which will be shared with prospective film makers - Film Asset Database
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I need permission to fly a drone?
The City of Bunbury has no role in the regulation or control of use of drones, and no role in providing permission for use of drones. Responsibility for compliance with Federal regulations and public safety requirements lies exclusively with operators.
The peak body for drone operation in Australia is the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). Appropriate licences and permits for flying drones must be obtained through CASA.
If you are looking for more information on flying drone commercially, head to CASA
- Do I need permission for still photography?
Permission is not required from the City of Bunbury for still photography.
- How much does a film permit cost?
There is no cost to obtain a film permit, if there is no impact on public open spaces and places. Fees do apply if you require services of City of Bunbury, including, but not limited to: provision of waste bins, marking/turning off/on reticulation, beach raking, cleaning, road sweeping.
Fees apply if the space used for filming is damaged
- What do I need to do to enable me to film in Bunbury?
To commercially film on City of Bunbury public spaces, facilities, footpaths, parks and roads, a film application must be completed and approved before proceeding.
For simple applications for filming which do not have impact on traffic or pedestrians, please allow five business days for processing, prior to the intended date of filming.
Applications that require third party approval, such as traffic management planning or significant pedestrian management, please allow 10 business days for processing, prior to the intended date of filming.
If you wish to film on private property, you must obtain separate approvals from the property owner.
- Do I need public liability insurance to film in Bunbury?
The production company is required to provide a copy of a certificate of currency for at least $10 million public liability insurance prior to a permit being issue. Film applications using the services of student performers are required to provide evidence of appropriate specialised risk insurance or work cover.
Helpful Links and Contacts
Screenwest is Western Australia’s screen industry development organisation. They offer competitive grant funding, incentives and locations assistance to support the development and production of screen projects in Western Australia.
Bunbury’s vibrant seaside port city surrounded by beautiful waterways is the perfect place for filming. The city offers excellent sporting and leisure precincts and is a hub for culture and entertainment. It features Bunbury’s Street and Public Art (the largest collection in regional Australia) and the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC). The Bunbury Regional Art Galleries (BRAG) is the largest WA regional art gallery, plus other tourism attractions such as swimming with wild dolphins.
Most of the accommodation is centred on Bunbury city, but there are other accommodation opportunities in surrounding towns and villages, from well-appointed beachfront houses and units to city motels and budget friendly hotels and chalets, caravan parks and backpackers. It is encouraged to book accommodation via the Bunbury Visitors Centre, as this commission is one of the few income streams and it keeps the money locally.
The Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industry can provide a list of businesses to help support film makers.
The Inclusive Film Making Toolkit is an essential resource to help people in the film sector become more inclusive and disability-confident. Produced by Bus Stop Films and Taste Creative, it covers important topics like inclusive filmmaking, authentic casting and support workers.