Fold Down
Rotary Hoist
Retractable
Portable
Ceiling Airer
Covers
Austral vs Hills Clotheslines
Hills and Austral are two of the most recognisable clothes line brands in Australia that can be found in just about everyone's backyard.
Both offer an extensive range of clothes lines with unique features and designs that cater to different needs and preferences.
Hills has recently been revamping the designs of their older generation products to cater to younger, more savvy buyers who seek sleeker-looking clothes lines.
Their nostalgia-inducing clothes hoist models have always been a staple in the Australian household with an unrelenting popularity.
Austral clothes lines on the other hand has stuck to their laser-focused approach on reliability, practicality and value.
They offer good quality clothesline products that are made in Australia and manufactured with reliability and good craftsmanship in mind.
Both have their strengths and weaknesses which we'll tackle in this article, keep reading to find out which of these two clothes line behemoths is worthy of your hard-earned money.
Topics in This Article:
The Importance of a Good Clothesline
A good, reliable clothesline is important for many reasons.
For starters, it allows for more efficient and eco-friendly drying of clothes, reducing energy costs and carbon footprint so you get to save a lot while helping save the environment.
Secondly, it aids in preserving the quality and lifespan of clothes by avoiding the wear and tear caused by a dryer so your favourite garments last longer.
Last but not least, a clothes airer can also serve as a functional outdoor feature if equipped with a clothesline cover.
By providing a comfortable space shielded from the sun, you get to spend time with loved ones while enjoying the fresh air, a great way to adorn the outdoor space of your house too!
It is also worth noting that supporting Australian businesses can help boost the economy -- a happy outcome for just about everyone.
Hills vs Austral: Which Brand is Better?
Hills manufacture their clothes lines in China while Austral makes clothes lines locally.
Hills recently did a complete overhaul of their products, getting rid of the dated look of their older offerings.
Austral, on the other hand, chose to stick to their guns by preferring a tried and tested formula that prioritises reliability above all else.
Let's get down to the nitty-gritty between these two clothesline behemoths, do keep reading on...
Hills is "On a Roll"
Despite choosing to outsource production in China, do keep in mind that Hills has stringent guidelines on the quality of their products so reliability is still their hallmark -- since 1945.
The original maker of Hills hoist is known for replacement parts that are easy to acquire and has proven time and time again that they don't just rest on their laurels.
They've recently redesigned their popular series of retractables, fold-downs, rotaries, and portable airers with better aesthetics and more robust components for longer lifespan.
They did this in a bid to attract buyers that no longer want clotheslines which look outdated.
It's also a much needed refresh to better match the designs of newer, more modern homes.
As a testament to the quality of their products, Hills has even recently started offering lifetime warranty on the majority of their products.
That's a feat that many other brands wouldn't even dare to offer.
Austral Remains "True to Its Core"
Austral clothes lines has always been a quiet brand that lets its credibility speak for itself.
The blatant "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach has worked for them for many years, it's pretty obvious that this brand values consistency and reliability above all else.
Their clothes lines are proudly engineered in Australia, made in Australia, for Australia -- after all, only Aussies know Aussies best.
They did this in a bid to attract buyers that no longer want clotheslines which look outdated.
It's also a much needed refresh to better match the designs of newer, more modern homes.
As a testament to the quality of their products, Hills has even recently started offering lifetime warranty on the majority of their products.
That's a feat that many other brands wouldn't even dare to offer.
Comparison of Austral and Hills Clotheslines
Compared to Austral, Hills offers a wider range of products to cater to the needs of a broad range of customers.
From Hills hoist models to retractables all the way to fold-downs and portables with a removable rack, Hills has bevy of product lines for just about everyone.
Hills also offers accessories such as ergonomic clothes pegs and a laundry trolley, they really do go the extra mile to ensure that you laundry errands are effortless.
As a matter of fact, Hills even has a dedicated section on their website for household irrigation equipment and other laundry room essentials.
Austral clothes lines' offerings are geared towards a specific chunk of the market which require roomy, permanently installed clothes lines that don't sacrifice utility.
It's a straightforward and streamlined approach which has worked for them for a long time since they get to concentrate on the engineering and durability of their products.
Don't expect to see portable Austral clothes lines or even a laundry trolley from them anytime soon, Austral's business is strictly permanent clothes lines + replacement parts only...
...well, unless they decide to take a different course but that's still a very big 'IF' at the moment.
Austral vs Hills: Material Durability
A quick Google search will show that both of these brands are known to be very heavy-duty and last a very long time.
However, taking a closer look at the products of these brands will show which one is actually cutting-corners in terms of overall build.
While Hills is synonymous with solid clothes lines that withstand the test of time, one cannot deny that their use of plastics is apparent.
The legendary brand uses high strength plastics that are often reinforced or UV-resistant to make production cheaper.
Somewhat durable, but as time passes they're still not as good as proper components made of galvanised steel because plastics tend to get brittle over time.
The good thing with Hills' recent move to redesign their products is the fact that they've done away with most plastic load-bearing components on their products.
These are usually parts vital for proper functioning of the clothes line like brackets, strut joints/hinges, and corner assembly that eventually require replacement down the road.
As far as we know, Austral never took this route but the playing field has now been levelled given that Hills chose to remove the "plastic bit" out of the equation as we've mentioned.
With material durability in mind, it's time to talk about...
Austral vs Hills: Weather Resistance
When you buy a new airer for your laundry space, it is important to take into account the weather resistance of the airer that you are interested in.
Consider the site where you will have unit installed, how strong the wind can get in your area, the overall build of the frame, how hot or cold or it gets, etc.
Australia's popular for its extreme climate that's known to bring outdoor appliances down to their knees, breaking down clothes lines and even HVAC systems more often than we'd like.
Our genuine advice is: it's impossible to go wrong with either company since both make amazingly resilient, weather resistant clothes airers.
Both are basically neck in neck with regards to weather resistance by using galvanised steel frames that are powder-coated for all the major load-bearing components.
Austral vs Hills: Warranty
The 100% Australian brand Austral offers up to 20 years warranty on the frame for most of their products (if not all).
Hills just recently upgraded their warranty coverage to lifetime as well for the majority of products.
Do bear in mind that some products or models of clothes line may be subjected to different coverage periods.
More often than not, smaller models like portables or laundry accessories have shorter warranty periods than clothes lines, refer to your specific product's manual for details.
Note: Since warranty periods offered by both brands are for extensive periods, preserving your proof of purchase is a must so keep a scanned copy of your receipt and save it for future use.
Both brands also have an extensive network of retailers and service partners should you require after-sales support unlike other manufacturers.
Popular Models From Austral and Hills
Now that we're done extensively talking about the significant differences between both brands, let's have a brief overview of the most popular models from Austral and Hills.
These are the top-selling models for each brand per category, not just on our storefront but also on other websites as well as general ratings online.
Fold Down Clothesline
Hills Double
A double frame fold down clothes line that will look good in your backyard regardless if in use or not.
Compared to the Addaline 35, we love the fresher design of the new Hills Double, plus, the variable-capacity frame allows you to use only the amount of drying space you need.
Manufactured in China with 28.8 metres of total line space, it's spacious enough to hang 3 wash loads and a household of 3-4 persons.
Key Features:
Austral Addaline 35
A formidable challenger to the Hills Double, the Addaline 35 is a proudly Aussie-made dual frame fold down clothesline that boasts best-in-class capacity.
With an understated design that has withstood the test of time, the Addaline 35 has a pristine reliability track record that no other dual frame fold down can beat.
With a generous 35.6m of drying space, it can dry a lot more wet clothes than the Hills Double and is suitable for up 6 persons.
Key Features:
Fixed Rotary Hoist
Austral Super 5
Entirely designed and manufactured in Australia, this extremely reliable galvanised steel workhorse offers great value without compromises.
With a price tag that's often more affordable than the Hills Heritage 7, the Super 5 is simply too hard to beat considering what you're getting.
50 metres of line space, dries King sheets, does 5 wash loads in one sitting. What's not to like about this affordable beast of a rotary hoist?
Key Features:
Hills Hoist Heritage 7
Hail the king of rotary clothes hoists, the Hills Hoist Heritage 7 is the clothes hoist to get if you want the ultimate trip down the memory lane.
It's the hills hoist that started it all and still just as dependable as prior generations, although it's worth noting that these are no longer manufactured in Australia.
Tossing more clothes (5 wash loads) on it is a walk in the park for this Hills hoist, dries king sheets too and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Key Features:
Folding Rotary Hoist
Austral Foldaway 51
The top-selling rotary hoist that lets you gain back precious yard space when you need it. High-capacity with 51.1 metres of line space, dependable, and space-saving.
This rotary hoist is space smart yet has enough room for everyone, and when you're done drying, just fold the arms and lift it off the ground socket to hide it away from view.
No need for permanent installation, no need to bid farewell to a huge chunk of your backyard. No more worrying about your clothes line during a storm.
Key Features:
Hills Hoist 8 Line
An improved take on the classic folding Hills hoist, this gargantuan boasts an insane 58 metres of total line space and honestly looks better than the foldaway 51.
And just like the Foldaway 51, when you're done with laundry errands, just fold the arms of the 8 Line and hide it away if you don't need it.
Easy as pie. Upgraded quality versus its predecessor, lifetime warranty plus enough room to dry even your neighbour's clothes, this hills hoist won't leave you asking for more.
Key Features:
Retractable
Austral Retractaway 40
Undoubtably the most popular retractable clothesline in Australia, the Austral Retractaway 40 combines practicality, affordability, and reliability in one small package.
Don't mistake its simple utilitarian look for a flimsy clothes line, this machine is an insanely reliable laundry companion with 40 metres of line space.
Throw anything at it, install it anywhere with a ground mount kit/post or hang multiple king sheets. You can purchase it cheaper than the Hills 7 Line retracting too!
Key Features:
Hills 7 Line Retracting
Capacious, upgraded, and beautiful to look at, the Hills 7 Line Retracting is definitely the retractable clothes line that will fill your neighbours withe envy.
With a new streamlined look, more robust internals, and crazy 47 metres of line space it's pretty clear the Hills company has upped the ante with this one.
Although a bit pricier than the Retractaway 40 despite not being made in Australia, it's still a pretty good value for what you're getting. The lifetime warranty alone is worth it.
Key Features:
How to Use and Maintain Austral and Hills Clotheslines
A clothes line is a worthwhile investment that continues to be useful even with little to no maintenance.
It's easy to overlook the fact that these dependable tools also require some occasional attention, despite their straightforward nature.
To assist you in maximizing the utility of your laundry companion, we have included step-by-step directions and additional pointers below.
Step-by-Step instructions for setting up and using the clothesline:
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Select a Suitable Location - It's important to choose a location for your clothesline that receives sufficient sunlight and airflow. It's ideal to place it near your laundry area or in a convenient location for easy access.
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Mount the Clothesline - With a drill and screws, securely mount the clothesline frame onto the wall or posts, ensuring that it is level and capable of supporting wet clothes.
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Attach the Clothesline Cord - This varies from model to model but so its best to read your product manual for proper installation for the clothesline cord.
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Adjust the Tension - Utilise the tensioner to tighten the cord until it is taut, ensuring it is level and at an appropriate height for your needs.
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Check the Clothesline - Test the clothesline's strength and stability by hanging a few lightweight items, like t-shirts or socks. If it's secure, you're ready to use it!
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Hang Your Laundry - Simply clip your clothes onto the clothesline using clothes pegs, ensuring even weight distribution to prevent the line from sagging.
Take Down Your Laundry - When your laundry is dry, remove the pegs from your clothes and fold the clothesline back up against the wall or posts to save space.
Tips for Maximising Clothesline Effectiveness
Avoid surprises by checking the weather forecast for the week ahead before using your clothesline.
For the most precise, minute-by-minute predictions, we suggest using 'hyperlocal' weather applications such as Apple's built-in weather app or Brolly.
Ensure adequate airflow by hanging thick and thin items in an alternating pattern (like a checkerboard) to promote uniform air circulation between articles.
For optimal results, place the thickest and heaviest items at the front of the frame.
When pressed for time you can consider using a fan to dry clothes faster.
If you're using an indoor clothes airer, use a dehumidifier and ensure all windows and doors are shut for rapid and efficient drying.
With a suitably sized dehumidifier, your clothes should be completely dry in roughly four hours - less if you are using a more powerful dehumidifier with a dedicated 'Laundry Mode'.
Maintenance Recommendations to Ensure Clothesline Longevity:
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Regular Cleaning - To prevent rust and other forms of damage, clean your clothesline with a damp cloth or sponge every now and then to remove dirt and debris from accumulating.
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Lubricate Moving Parts - If your clothesline has moving parts such as hinges, latches and pulleys, apply light machine oil or silicone spray periodically to maintain smooth operation and to prevent dust and debris from damaging the moving parts.
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Tighten Screws and Bolts - Inspect your clothesline at least twice a year for loose screws/bolts and tighten if needed. This preserves the clothesline frame's integrity.
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Store Properly - When not in use, fold your clothesline neatly (if applicable) and store it in a cool and dry location. This minimises weather damage and prolongs the product's lifespan.
Replace Worn Parts - If you notice any worn components such as frayed cords or broken plastic trims, have them replaced as soon as possible to keep your clothesline in perfect working order.
Conclusion
Both Austral and Hills make very compelling range of products that can suit the requirements of just about everyone.
You really can't go wrong with either company, Hills makes great and innovative products with rich history.
Austral chooses a tried and tested formula highlighting its proud Aussie roots.
The next step is basically choosing the perfect type of clothes line for your needs and to do that, you can check out: Ultimate Guide to the Best Types of Clothesline
If you have already decided on your next clothesline or if you're seriously considering some of our recommendations, it's best to seek assistance from your trusted clothes line expert.
If you still don't know where to start, we can gladly help you out with that by getting in touch with us.
