Edward John (later Sir John) Bunting was born on 13 August 1918 in Ballarat, Victoria. He was educated at Trinity Grammar School and later graduated with honours from the University of Melbourne. 

A prominent career public servant in the Commonwealth Public Service, Bunting's first senior appointments were as Assistant Secretary (Cabinet) in the Prime Minister's Department (1949-53), Official Secretary to the Australian High Commission in London (1953-55) and Deputy Secretary in the Prime Minister's Department (1955-58). In the last years of the Menzies Government, and during the Holt Government, Sir John was Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department as well as being Secretary to Cabinet (1959-68). During the Gorton Government he was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Cabinet Office (1968-71). In the subsequent McMahon and Whitlam Governments he was Secretary of the renamed Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (also Cabinet Secretariat) (1971-75). 

In February 1975, Sir John became Australian High Commissioner to London.  He held this position until his retirement in 1977. He was later National Co-ordinator of the Sir Robert Menzies Memorial Trust (1978-95), Chairman of the Official Establishments Trust (1983-92) and a Fellow of Trinity College, University of Melbourne (1981-95).  

Sir John Bunting was made a Knight Batchelor (Kt) in 1964, a Knight Commander in the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1977 and a Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) in 1982. He died in May 1995.

 
Sources
 
Who's Who in Australia, 16th ed, 1959; 22nd ed, 1977; 26th ed, 1988; 31st ed, 1995