Stephens, Queensland facts for kids
Stephens was once a suburb located on the beautiful City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It was a part of the Gold Coast area before it was officially merged into other suburbs.
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What Was Stephens?
Stephens was a place on the Gold Coast that used to be a suburb. It was known for its natural wetlands and later for a famous university. Even though it's not called Stephens anymore, its history is still an important part of the Gold Coast story.
How Stephens Got Its Name
The name Stephens came from a natural area called the Stephens Swamp. This swamp was a large wetland located between Reedy Creek and Burleigh Heads. The swamp itself was named after a person named Thomas Blacket Stephens. In 1873, Thomas Blacket Stephens bought a large piece of land, about 6,980 acres, in the area. He wanted to drain the swamp into Little Tallebudgera Creek to create new land. This new land was then used for dairy farming, which is raising cows to produce milk.
Growing into a Suburb
For many years, the area known as Stephens was mostly natural land and farms. However, in the 1980s, the area started to change. More and more houses and buildings were built, and Stephens began to look like a typical suburban area. This meant more families moved in, and the community grew.
Birth of Bond University
A very important event for Stephens happened in 1987. This was when Bond University was created. The Parliament of Queensland, which is like the government for the state of Queensland, passed a special law called the Bond University Act. This law officially made Bond University a real university. Teaching at Bond University began in May 1989. In its first year, the university welcomed 322 students, starting its journey as a major educational center.
Why Stephens Isn't on the Map Anymore
In 2002, a big change happened for Stephens. The suburb was officially merged with two other areas. It joined with Andrews and a part of Robina. Together, these areas formed a brand new suburb called Varsity Lakes. A small part of Stephens also became part of West Burleigh, which is a section of Burleigh Heads. Because of these changes, Stephens is no longer an official place name on maps today. Its history lives on as part of Varsity Lakes and Burleigh Heads.
