If you’ve ended up here searching for Stephens on the Gold Coast, the short answer is that it doesn’t exist anymore, at least not as an official suburb. Stephens was absorbed into two other suburbs back in 2002, and the name itself was retired. This page exists to explain what happened and point you to where the area actually is today.
What Happened to Stephens
In 2002, Stephens was merged with the neighbouring locality of Andrews and a portion of Robina to form the new suburb of Varsity Lakes. At the same time, the remaining part of the old Stephens area, the section closest to the coast, became the West Burleigh part of Burleigh Heads. Stephens has not been an official Gold Coast placename since that boundary change, which is why you won’t find it on a current map or in council records as a standalone suburb.
This kind of suburb consolidation isn’t unusual on the Gold Coast. As the city grew, a number of smaller, older locality names were folded into larger, better-defined suburbs to simplify planning, addressing and council administration. Stephens is one of several names from that era that no longer appears on current boundary maps.
Where to Look Instead
If you’re researching the area that used to be called Stephens, you want one of two current suburb guides depending on which part interests you.
For the inland section, now part of Varsity Lakes, see our full guide covering Bond University, Lake Orr, the suburb’s heavy rail terminus to Brisbane, and what it’s like to live there: Varsity Lakes suburb guide.
For the coastal section, now part of Burleigh Heads (specifically the West Burleigh area), see our guide to the beaches, dining and lifestyle of that suburb: Burleigh Heads suburb guide.
FAQ
Is Stephens still a suburb on the Gold Coast?
No. Stephens stopped being an official placename in 2002, when it was merged with Andrews and part of Robina to form Varsity Lakes, with the remaining coastal portion becoming the West Burleigh part of Burleigh Heads.
Where was Stephens on the Gold Coast?
Stephens sat in the area now occupied by Varsity Lakes and the West Burleigh section of Burleigh Heads, in the southern Gold Coast between the current Robina and Burleigh Heads suburbs.
What suburbs were formed from Stephens?
Stephens, together with Andrews and a portion of Robina, formed Varsity Lakes in 2002. The remaining part of Stephens became the West Burleigh part of Burleigh Heads.