Shane Jacobson in reality TV show about buying regional Victorian pub

A new reality TV show is set to reveal whether comedian Shane Jacobson becoming the owner of a regional Victorian pub is “the great Australian dream, or a nightmare”.

Shane Jacobson’s journey to becoming a pub owner is becoming the subject of a reality TV show. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

Shane Jacobson’s journey to becoming a pub owner in regional Victoria is being filmed for a reality TV show.

Jacobson, his producer-director mate Dean Murphy, and a group of investors, have bought a country pub, the Dederang Hotel, in Victoria’s northeast.

But Page 13 can now reveal Jacobson’s pub purchase is being filmed.

“The potential show will follow the journey of us buying the pub, and doing a bit of work to the pub,” Jacobson said. “I don’t want to say ‘renovation’ because I’m nervous about making too many changes to the place.”

The Dederang Hotel in Victoria’s northeast.

Jacobson, along with a group of investors, have bought the pub.

The Dederang Hotel, known affectionately to locals as the “Ranga”, sits proudly on the Kiewa Valley Highway between Wodonga and Bright.

Jacobson said the pub purchase was Murphy’s idea.

“He comes from a dairy farming family in the Kiewa Valley. Dean doesn’t even drink. But that pub has been in and around Dean … his whole life,” Jacobson said.

Jacobson added: “We have to make sure we don’t ruin the locals’ pub. I’ve seen passion for football clubs, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the love the locals have for the Ranga.”

Jacobson says the locals have a huge passion for ‘the Ranga’.

Jacobson says they want to make sure they ‘don’t ruin the locals’ pub’.

Jacobson said he’ll work behind the bar occasionally.

“Will I be up there pulling beers? Yes,” he said, laughing. “But I bet you I’ll drink all the beers I pour.”

The actor, stage star and TV presenter said he is excited about owning an Aussie pub.

“We’ve been told all our lives that the great Australian dream is to own your own home,” he said. “But to that I say, ‘Frog shit.’ Every bloke I’ve ever spoken to says they want to own a pub. I’m about to find out if I’ve bought the great Australian dream, or a nightmare.”