Work began on the first house on the first block in the first street of the first suburb of the new satellite town, Gungahlin.

Property developer Alex Brinkmeye and Four Seasons Homes director Rod Sheather were the first to put spade in soil on what was likely 2 Lambell Close in Palmerston.

It was to be a large display home to be on show by the end of February, Mr Sheather said.

Mr Brinkmeyer said that Gungahlin would be built very quickly.

Work was to begin on the second house on this parcel of land a week later.

It was also expected that the other two developers who bought into the area would begin building within a week.

Mr Brinkmeyer said that within six months, 500 to 600 homes should be up - 600 had already been pre-sold.

Within 18 months, two to three thousand houses a year would be built.

See: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/13013813