| Varsity Lakes Gold Coast, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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 Varsity Lakes, 2007 | |||||||||||||||
  Varsity Lakes | |||||||||||||||
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| Coordinates | 28°05′17″S153°24′35″E / 28.08806°S 153.40972°E /-28.08806; 153.40972 | ||||||||||||||
| Population | 16,493 (2021 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 2,795/km2 (7,240/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Established | 2002 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4227 | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 5 m (16 ft) | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 5.9 km2 (2.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | City of Gold Coast | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||||||||
| Federal division(s) | McPherson | ||||||||||||||
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Varsity Lakes is asuburb in theCity of Gold Coast,Queensland, Australia.[2] In the2021 census, Varsity Lakes had a population of 16,493 people.[1]
The suburb was originally known asStephens but in 2002Stephens,Andrews and a section ofRobina were amalgamated to form the new suburb of Varsity Lakes.[3]
The suburb is bounded to the west by thePacific Motorway, to the south by Reedy Creek Road, and to the east by Mattocks Road and Bermuda Street.[4]
TheGold Coast railway line enters the suburb from the north-west (Robina) and runs immediately parallel and east of the motorway where the line terminates atVarsity Lakes railway station (28°05′50″S153°23′57″E / 28.0971°S 153.3993°E /-28.0971; 153.3993 (Varsity Lakes railway station)).[5]
In 1873, formerMayor of BrisbaneThomas Blacket Stephens[6] purchased 6980 acres of swampyGold Coast hinterland and began to drain the swamp to develop dairying naming his first dairyHill View. His sonWilliam Stephens continued the drainage work and established the dairyMerrimac.[7][8]
In 1981, a southern section of the estate was officially namedStephens in 1981 in honour of Thomas Blacket Stephens.[3]
In 1999, the area between Stephens andRobina was purchased byDelfin Lend Lease and a real estate development known as Varsity Lakes began. Man-made lakes named Lake Orr and Lake Azzura were created and residential development followed.[9]
Varsity College opened on 1 January 2001.[10]
In 2002, the suburbs of Stephens, Andrews and a portion of Robina were amalgamated to create a new suburb named Varsity Lakes after the development.[3]
Arcadia College was a private secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls. In 2015, Arcadia College combined its two campuses atSouthport andPalm Beach into a single campus at 1 Bellevue Drive in Varsity Lakes, (28°04′46″S153°24′31″E / 28.0795°S 153.4087°E /-28.0795; 153.4087 (Arcadia College (2015-2021))).[11][12][13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 188 students with 20 teachers (19 full-time equivalent) and 9 non-teaching staff (7 full-time equivalent).[14] In January 2021, the school relocated to 12 Centreline Place,Robina.[15]
In the2011 census, Varsity Lakes had a population of 14,366 people, 52.2% female and 47.8% male. The median age of the Varsity Lakes population was 32 years, 5 years below the national median of 37. 61.1% of people living in Varsity Lakes were born in Australia. The other top responses for country of birth were New Zealand 8.1%, England 4.8%, China 1.8%, South Africa 1.7%, Malaysia 1%. 76.8% of people spoke only English at home; the next most common languages were 2.3% Mandarin, 1.7% Cantonese, 1.1% Japanese, 1% Korean, 0.9% Arabic. The top responses for religious groups in Varsity Lakes by size were;Roman Catholic - 23.4%,Anglican - 16%,Uniting Church - 4.3%,Non-denominational Christian - 3.9%,Presbyterian - 3.1% andBuddhism - 2.3%. Remaining religions make up for less than two percent individually while "no religion" comprised 24.8%.[16]
In the2016 census, Varsity Lakes had a population of 15,026 people.[17]
In the2021 census, Varsity Lakes had a population of 16,493 people.[1]
Varsity College is a government primary and secondary (Prep to 12) school for boys and girls.[12][18] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 3,269 students with 243 teachers (223 full-time equivalent) and 107 non-teaching staff (80 full-time equivalent).[14] It includes aspecial education program.[12] The school has two sites:[19]
The suburb is also served by two other primary schools:Caningeraba State School in neighbouringBurleigh Waters to the east andRobina State School in neighbouringRobina to the north-west. It is also served byMiami State High School in neighbouringMiami to the north-east.[4]
Varsity Lakes offers severalChristian places of worship. These include:
Market Square offers a range of retail to the Varsity Lakes community. Major chains such asSubway,Night Owl andIGA are all located in Market Square. Market Square also offers banks, beauty salons, bottle shops, chemists, dental care, gyms, real estates, restaurants and taverns.[citation needed]
Christine Corner is another retail area located in Varsity Lakes which includes a second Subway, a second Night Owl, bakeries, beauty salons, betting agencies, bottle shops, medical centres, newsagents, petrol stations, restaurants, taverns and vets.[citation needed]
The majority of sporting facilities in Varsity Lakes are present in both the primary and secondary school campuses.
The Varsity Lakes Sports House is a precinct forwater sports opened in 2012 and was created by Delphin Lend Lease, Gold Coast City Council and Varsity Lakes Community Limited.[citation needed]
In 2008 the Varsity Lakes Skate Park (officially known as Janette Green Park) underwent a $1 million revamp. On 17 March 2009 skating legendTony Hawk visited the skate park and commented "We just go wherever the skate parks are and you've got a great skate park here."[22]
Central Park offers undercover gym facilities, a grass oval withAustralian rules football posts and basketball courts. In December 2017 an undercover outdoor gym was opened at Central Park which includes a basketball court fitted with lights allowing for nighttime use.[23]
The Varsity Lakes Community Centre regularly hosts sporting group activities; including aerobics, fitness, walking and table tennis.[24]
Kinetic Sunshine Coast operate a number of bus services though the suburb that connect Varsity Lakes toRobina,Broadbeach andTweed Heads.Queensland Rail operates a line that runs fromCentral railway station, Brisbane through to the Gold Coast, terminating atVarsity Lakes. Trains depart the station every half-hour and operate until late, seven days a week. Both Queensland Rail and Kinetic are under contract byTranslink who operate an integrated ticketing system throughoutSouth East Queensland.[citation needed]
