Varsity Lakes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Varsity Lakes Gold Coast, Queensland
Varsity Lakes, 2007
Varsity Lakes Location in Gold Coast, Australia
Population	16,493 (2021 census)
• 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	13.0 km (8 mi) S of Surfers Paradise 15.4 km (10 mi) S of Southport 86.6 km (54 mi) SSE of Brisbane CBD 21.1 km (13 mi) NW of Tweed Heads
LGA(s)	City of Gold Coast
State electorate(s)	Burleigh Mermaid Beach
Federal Division(s)	McPherson
Suburbs around Varsity Lakes: Robina Robina Miami Mudgeeraba Varsity Lakes Burleigh Waters Reedy Creek Burleigh Heads Burleigh Heads

Varsity Lakes is a lively suburb located on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. It's a great place to live with lots of lakes and green spaces. In 2021, about 16,493 people called Varsity Lakes home.

This area was once known as Stephens. But in 2002, it joined with parts of Andrews and Robina to become the new suburb of Varsity Lakes.

Where is Varsity Lakes?

Melaleucas trees at Varsity Lakes Wetlands Reserve, 2022

Varsity Lakes is easy to find on a map. To the west, it's bordered by the Pacific Motorway. Reedy Creek Road forms its southern edge. To the east, you'll find Mattocks Road and Bermuda Street.

The Gold Coast railway line runs through the suburb. It comes from Robina in the north-west. The train line ends right here at Varsity Lakes railway station.

A Look Back in Time

How Varsity Lakes Began

The story of Varsity Lakes started a long time ago. In 1873, a man named Thomas Blacket Stephens bought a huge area of swampy land. He was once the Mayor of Brisbane. He worked hard to drain the swamp. His goal was to create farms for dairy cows. He named his first dairy Hill View.

His son, William Stephens, continued this important work. He kept draining the land and started another dairy called Merrimac.

Naming the Area

In 1981, a southern part of this land was officially named Stephens. This was done to honor Thomas Blacket Stephens, who started it all.

Later, in 1999, a company bought the land between Stephens and Robina. They started a big new housing project called Varsity Lakes. They even created two large man-made lakes, Lake Orr and Lake Azzura. Soon, many homes were built around these beautiful lakes.

Varsity College Opens

A big school called Varsity College opened its doors on January 1, 2001. It quickly became an important part of the community.

The Suburb is Born

In 2002, something exciting happened. The areas of Stephens, Andrews, and a piece of Robina all joined together. They formed one new suburb. They named it Varsity Lakes, after the new housing development. Today, Varsity Lakes is known as a well-planned and modern community.

Who Lives Here?

Varsity Lakes has grown a lot over the years. In 2011, about 14,366 people lived here. By 2016, the population grew to 15,026. In 2021, it reached 16,493 people.

The average age of people in Varsity Lakes is 32 years old. This is a bit younger than the average for all of Australia. Many people (61.1%) were born in Australia. Other people came from places like New Zealand, England, China, South Africa, and Malaysia. Most people speak English at home. But you might also hear languages like Mandarin, Cantonese, or Japanese.

Learning and Schools

Varsity Lakes has excellent schools for students of all ages.

Arcadia College

Arcadia College was a private high school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. It used to have two campuses. In 2015, they moved to one campus on Bellevue Drive. In 2021, the school moved again to Robina.

Varsity College

Varsity College is a large government school. It teaches students from Prep (the first year of school) all the way to Year 12. It also has a special program for students who need extra support. The school has two main campuses:

• The primary school campus is on Bridgewater Drive.
• The secondary school campus is on Varsity Parade.

Students in Varsity Lakes can also go to other nearby schools. These include Caningeraba State School in Burleigh Waters and Robina State School in Robina. For high school, some students attend Miami State High School in Miami.

Places of Worship

Varsity Lakes has several churches for people who follow the Christian faith. These include:

• Elevation Church
• Glow Church
• Hope Church Australia
• Metro Church

Shopping and Fun

Lake Orr and houses near Lake Orr, 2015

You'll find many shops and services in Varsity Lakes.

Market Square

Market Square is a popular shopping area. You can find big stores like Subway, Night Owl, and IGA here. It also has banks, beauty salons, bottle shops, chemists, and dental care. You can also find gyms, real estate offices, restaurants, and pubs.

Christine Corner

Christine Corner is another handy shopping spot. It has another Subway and Night Owl. Plus, you can find bakeries, beauty salons, betting shops, and medical centers. There are also newsagents, petrol stations, restaurants, pubs, and vets.

Sports and Activities

Varsity Lakes has great places for sports and staying active.

School Sports Facilities

Many sports facilities are available at the primary and secondary campuses of Varsity College.

Varsity Lakes Sports House

The Varsity Lakes Sports House is a special place for water sports. It opened in 2012. It was created by several groups working together to give the community a place for water activities.

Skate Park Fun

The Varsity Lakes Skate Park is a fantastic spot for skaters. It's officially called Janette Green Park. In 2008, it got a big upgrade. In 2009, even the famous skating legend Tony Hawk visited! He said, "You've got a great skate park here."

Central Park

Central Park is another excellent place for sports. It has an outdoor gym that's covered, so you can work out in any weather. There's also a grass oval with posts for Australian rules football. Plus, it has basketball courts with lights, so you can play even at night!

Community Centre Activities

The Varsity Lakes Community Centre often hosts different sports groups. You can join in activities like aerobics, fitness classes, walking groups, and table tennis.

Getting Around

Varsity Lakes Railway Station

It's easy to get around Varsity Lakes and to other places.

Bus Services

The Kinetic Group runs many bus services through the suburb. These buses connect Varsity Lakes to nearby areas like Robina, Broadbeach, and Tweed Heads.

Train Travel

Queensland Rail operates a City Train line. This train goes all the way from Central Railway Station in Brisbane to the Gold Coast. It ends right at Varsity Lakes Railway Station. Trains leave every half-hour and run late into the night, seven days a week.

Both the train and bus services are part of Translink. This means you can use one ticket for both trains and buses across South East Queensland.