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timmmay

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#323534 12-Dec-2025 21:03
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Our Hills folding clothes line is 13 years old and needs replacing. The plastic caps on the arms is broken, the plastic caps that cover the line won't clip on, and it's generally old and tired. I was going to get another Hills, but saw the Austral range online at bunnings like this and this. Unfortunately Austral aren't in stock so we can't look before we buy. Has anyone used Austral? Any comments? ChatGPT seems to think they're more robust than Hills.

 

I also know about Stainless Steel Clothes Lines, but they look like more hassle to put up and down, using a button rather than semi automatic.

 

Any other suggestions? Looking for about 25 - 30m of line, double fold is handy in the current hills but not essential.


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Jase2985
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  #3443290 12-Dec-2025 21:42
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13 years from an item that's currently valued at ~@250 is pretty damn good. for that price anything over 5-7 years is doing alright.

 

why not just stick with hills if it was that good?




timmmay

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  #3443294 12-Dec-2025 21:57
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Yeah it's done ok, and they're pretty cheap. It's been a bit rubbish for 5 years but I hadn't gotten around to replacing it. If there's a brand that's better quality I'd look at that to save the hassle of replacement. 


stevob
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  #3443516 13-Dec-2025 11:00
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I just installed one of these on my fence line - max distance between brackets 4m x 6 lines.

 

https://swiftdryclotheslines.co.nz/collections/fold-down/products/swiftdry-streamline-clothesline-black-powdercoated

 

High end price wise, but sturdy and built to last, from a Kiwi family business.




eracode
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  #3443612 13-Dec-2025 12:00
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We installed this Daytek model ten years ago and have had no issues.

 

Also installed a couple for friends and family - with no issues.

 

 





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Jase2985
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  #3443615 13-Dec-2025 12:18
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stevob:

 

I just installed one of these on my fence line - max distance between brackets 4m x 6 lines.

 

https://swiftdryclotheslines.co.nz/collections/fold-down/products/swiftdry-streamline-clothesline-black-powdercoated

 

High end price wise, but sturdy and built to last, from a Kiwi family business.

 

 

I could be wrong, but that looks like it will chew through the line pretty quickly with no protection round the holes


timmmay

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  #3443616 13-Dec-2025 12:27
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Interesting option, thanks. I think I'll just get the Hills once mostly because I can just pop into a store and buy one.


 
 
 
 

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stevob
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  #3443685 13-Dec-2025 15:40
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Jase2985:

 

I could be wrong, but that looks like it will chew through the line pretty quickly with no protection round the holes

 

 

 

 

Yeah , I'd hazard a guess that's been noted as the one I received had grommets in the holes.


Groucho
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  #3444152 15-Dec-2025 13:01
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Not a folding line but last year my parents' Hills retractable clothes line fell apart due to decayed plastic mounting brackets but I'd guess was minimum 20+ years old.  A replacement had to span 8M and initially looked at Hills but couldn't find any in NZ that were longer than 5-6M fully extended.

 

Discovered Austral (Placemakers) also make them in different lengths up to 10M which other than colour and more rounded edges on the body it was a perfect swap out.  The body width and height, mounting brackets and holes were near identical so an amazingly easy install.  Comparing shorter lengths they were priced similar to Hills, I'll have to come back to you on longevity...


richrdh18
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  #3444229 15-Dec-2025 14:29
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Ive got a Hills, that has been going strong since we bought our home 25 years ago.  Starting to show its age now and I cant be bothered restringing it again for the 3rd time.  Looking around for another, either Hills or anyother brand.


richrdh18
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  #3444230 15-Dec-2025 14:30
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Ive got a Hills, that has been going strong since we bought our home 25 years ago.  Starting to show its age now and I cant be bothered restringing it again for the 3rd time.  Looking around for another, either Hills or anyother brand.


timmmay

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  #3444235 15-Dec-2025 14:41
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I installed a replacement Hills this weekend. It was relatively straightforward but the hole spacing is different and conflicted with existing fasteners so I had to remount a large thick board to the house including drilling through to the studs, plus a couple of lots of filling and painting. There's a few little tricks do it as well which I will try to post about tonight if I remember. It only takes 2-3 hours of things go well but it took me a day or a bit more given all the painting and re-mounting. 


 
 
 

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timmmay

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  #3444289 15-Dec-2025 17:14
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I found the cross beams quite difficult to install with the Hills clothesline. The old ones bolt together, the new ones have tubes that slide together. First off, the manual doesn't point out what should be obvious that the tubes are different lengths, so keep an eye on that. Second they've very easy to scratch the powder coat so make sure you put a tarp down or something.

 

The tubes are the full width of the clothes line, of course, and the arms are really rigid and don't move sideways. We had to take the arms off the wall mount to get them all to fit together. This youtube video shows at this position shows how Hills said it should be done, but in practice the arm doesn't bend out at all so you have to take the arm off the wall.


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