When the Holden TE Gemini was released – Australia in 1979

Gemini Home

TE Gemini

Cost of a new TE Gemini

  • Base models started at approximately $5,200–$5,400 AUD
  • The TE Gemini featured updated styling, improved suspension, and continued front-wheel-drive 4-cylinder engines
  • Optional features included air conditioning, upgraded interiors, automatic transmission, and AM/FM radios
  • It targeted young families and urban drivers seeking a practical, economical, and reliable compact car

Average wage

  • Average weekly wage: about $210–$220
  • Average annual wage: roughly $10,920–$11,440

Average house price

  • Around $32,000–$34,000

Price of petrol

  • About 75–80 cents per litre

Prime Minister

  • Malcolm Fraser (Liberal Party)

Population of Australia

  • About 15 million people

Top-grossing movie

  • Kramer vs. Kramer, Apocalypse Now

Top song

  • I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor topped Australian charts

Significant world event

  • Global energy concerns and economic adjustments following the 1970s oil crises
  • Rise of more fuel-efficient and compact car designs

Popular TV / radio in Australia

  • Countdown, Homicide, The Don Lane Show
  • FM and AM radio alongside television continued to dominate Australian entertainment

Significant Australian news story

  • Economic policy, automotive innovation, and suburban development were key headlines
  • The TE Gemini reflected late-1970s Australian demand for small, reliable, and economical cars suitable for urban and suburban use

Interesting comparisons

  • The TE Gemini cost roughly 0.48–0.5 years’ average wages
  • The average house cost about 2.9–3 years’ wages
  • Filling a ~40L tank cost roughly $30 AUD
  • A week’s wages could buy roughly 270–280 litres of petrol
  • The TE Gemini represented late-1970s trends: compact, fuel-efficient, and practical vehicles for small families and city drivers
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