Just like the classic song, Home Among the Gum Trees says, there really is a “clothesline out the back”.

It is this piece of vital household infrastructure which seems to collect the thoughts of this ponderer of all things domestic.

To Mrs Reggie, it’s merely an old fashioned, solar powered clothes dryer- somewhere to only be when absolutely necessary.

But closer inspection will reveal this to be a remarkable bit of work.

It is the classic Hills Hoist. Galvanized all around with the hard black plastic handle on the body section, just below the little hole with the words “oil here” above it.

While you wouldn’t know it, something suggests that this two word piece of advice has been closely adhered to.

The entire wire umbrella-like structure turns as smoothly as anything.

And herein lies the most intriguing thing about the clothes line; it is near in pristine condition.

Usually a clothes line would be showing its age, particularly one pushing the edges of 30 years of operation.

But not this example. Every wire is still taught, each diagonal brace is straight, the handle winds effortlessly and the black plastic caps on the ends of the four main arms are still in tact.

One can only assume this is all a result of a regimental service calendar or a protectionist style care that was placed over the device.

It certainly does not show the signs of any young’uns having used it as a sort of monkey-bar merry-go-round.

It’s a big beast to, designed to take the full brunt of a family of seven’s work wear, school uniforms, and the obligatory 21 white cloth nappies.

It’s seen many years in the sun and rain. There is no polished powder coated finish here.

And something suggests it could show these new wall-mounted, fold away types a thing or two about drying washing.