Henry William St Pierre Bunbury, after whom the City of Bunbury in Western Australia is named, was a professional soldier, the son and nephew of distinguished professional soldiers. He was just 21 years old when he sailed for the Australian colonies in charge of the military guard on the convict transport Susan. Between his arrival in Sydney in July 1834 and his departure in November 1837, he spent 10 months in New South Wales as aide-de-camp to Governor Bourke, 9 months in Van Diemen's Land, and 21 months in Western Australia.