 "Bunbury" was laid down by Evans Deakin and Company at Brisbane on 1 November 1941, launched on 16 May 1942 by Mrs. F. A. Cooper, wife of the Treasurer of Queensland, and commissioned on 3 January 1943.The corvette received two battle honours for her service during World War II; "Pacific 1943–45" and "New Guinea 1943–44".