{"id":3073,"date":"2026-04-02T11:24:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T11:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australianholden.com\/?page_id=3073"},"modified":"2026-04-14T06:33:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T06:33:09","slug":"when-the-holden-rb-gemini-was-released-australia-in-1985","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/gemini\/rb-gemini\/when-the-holden-rb-gemini-was-released-australia-in-1985\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Holden RB Gemini was released &#8211; Australia in 1985"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/gemini\/\">Gemini Home<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/australianholden.com\/index.php\/australian-holden\/gemini\/rb-gemini\/\">RB Gemini<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Cost of a new RB Gemini<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Base models started at approximately&nbsp;$8,500\u2013$8,800 AUD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The RB Gemini featured&nbsp;updated styling, modernised interiors, refined 4-cylinder engines, and improved suspension for better ride and handling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The RB was the first and only Gemini of the second generation. The RB Gemini would be the only Gemini to be a front wheel drive. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optional features included&nbsp;air conditioning, higher trim levels, automatic transmission, and AM\/FM radios<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It targeted&nbsp;urban drivers and small families seeking a reliable, economical, and practical compact car<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was the last of the Holden Gemini models, they would eventually phase out and the Holden Astra would occupy its place in the market.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Average wage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Average weekly wage: about&nbsp;$390\u2013$400<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Average annual wage: roughly&nbsp;$20,280\u2013$20,800<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Average house price<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Around&nbsp;$85,000\u2013$87,000<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Price of petrol<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;$1.25 per litre<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Prime Minister<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bob Hawke (Labor Party)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Population of Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>About&nbsp;15.9 million people<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Top-grossing movie<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Back to the Future, Rambo: First Blood Part II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Top song<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>We Are the World&nbsp;by&nbsp;USA for Africa&nbsp;topped Australian charts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Significant world event<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cold War tensions easing slightly, global economic adjustments, and rising technology influence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automotive design increasingly focused on fuel efficiency, reliability, and compact size<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Popular TV \/ radio in Australia<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Neighbours, Countdown, Sale of the Century<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>FM and AM radio alongside television dominated entertainment and pop culture<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Significant Australian news story<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Economic reform, rising house prices, and suburban expansion dominated headlines<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The RB Gemini reflected&nbsp;mid-1980s Australian demand for compact, fuel-efficient, reliable cars suitable for urban and suburban lifestyles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Interesting comparisons (great for article colour)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The RB Gemini cost roughly&nbsp;0.42\u20130.43 years\u2019 average wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The average house cost about&nbsp;4.2 years\u2019 wages<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filling a ~40L tank cost roughly&nbsp;$50 AUD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A week\u2019s wages could buy roughly&nbsp;320 litres of petrol<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The RB Gemini represented&nbsp;mid-1980s trends: practical, economical, and reliable compact cars for small families and city drivers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gemini Home RB Gemini Cost of a new RB Gemini Average wage Average house price Price of petrol Prime Minister Population of Australia Top-grossing movie Top song Significant world event Popular TV \/ radio in Australia Significant Australian news story Interesting comparisons (great for article colour)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3435,"parent":107,"menu_order":10,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3073","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - 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