Dry Your Laundry the Australian Way: The Spinning Clothesline’s Hidden Advantage
In Australia, a decidedly distinctive clothesline has taken root in gardens. Its metal frame and its rotating mechanism are particularly appreciated. We were able to learn more about this equipment thanks to an article on the site Powerhouse Collection.
A clothesline designed to address a daily problem
This clothesline was invented in Adelaide, Australia. Contrary to what one might think, it wasn’t Lance Hill who first conceived this rotating drying device. As early as 1926, Gilbert Toyne filed a patent for a model of this kind. It remained relatively obscure until the early 1960s.
It was after World War II that the concept truly began to gain traction. Lance Hill returned to Adelaide in 1945, seeking a solution to a problem he faced in his own garden. His wife pointed out that their traditional clothesline—set between two posts and held by a central support—hindered the growth of their lemon tree. At that time he was unemployed and had plenty of free time. He decided to design a more compact model, made from tubes and metal wires.
The lesser-known advantage of this rotary clothesline
The main advantage of this clothesline is that it allows outdoor space to be used efficiently without needing to multiply equipment. Its central mast and four arms help distribute the laundry across multiple lines around the structure. A winch mechanism also makes it easier to adjust the height of the lines. Marketed by Hills Industries between the 1950s and 1960s, the Jet model perfectly illustrates this operation.
Another benefit of this design is that it lets the laundry enjoy the outdoors and the breeze, without occupying the entire garden area with permanently stretched cords. The model, however, remains quite imposing, standing about three meters tall with a span that can reach four meters.
From a craftsman’s workshop to an international company
To produce its first units, Lance Hill recovered tubes from a metal installation formerly used under the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the war. To adjust his lines, he also devised a molded aluminum mechanism. Very quickly, his company expanded and established itself as a reference.
Over time, the company’s activities diversified. It notably marketed ironing boards, wheelbarrows, antennas and surveillance equipment, as well as building materials. Its international presence was extended to the United Kingdom, New Zealand and several countries in Asia. Lance Hill was not the first to invent the rotary clothes dryer, but he is the one who popularized it.
