Joe Dolce: Shaddap You Face singer sells church conversion to musician
A church conversion in rural Victoria has passed from one musician to another, with 1980s hit maker Joe Dolce offloading the property after it spent almost two and a half years for sale.
Shaddap You Face singer Joe Dolce has finally offloaded his rural Victorian church conversion, in a deal that was almost two and a half years in the making.
The hit maker sold his “nice-a-place” in Natte Yallock, in the state’s northwest, to fellow musician Jack Jones for $270,000, Elders Real Estate’s Elizabeth Teal said.
Jones, born Irwin Thomas, told the Herald Sun he planned to use the church as a studio and eventually build a family house on the 4100sq m block.
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“This is a long gamer for me,” Jones said.
“Initially, I think we’ll just enjoy it for what it is.”
Jones is best known for being the lead singer and guitarist of ‘90s rock band Southern Sons, whose hits included Heart in Danger and Hold Me in Your Arms.
The group recently reformed to play the One Electric Day festival alongside John Farnham, James Reyne, Jon Stevens, Vanessa Amorosi and The Black Sorrows.
The musician was also formerly married to actor Rebecca Gibney.
He said he was “looking forward to making music” in the church.
“It’s a beautiful space (with) great sound,” Jones said.
“I love the fact Joe and his missus have owned the property, and it’s been in the hands of artistic and creative people. I feel very privileged to be taking that further.
“I’m also a bit of a country boy at heart.”
Dolce and his partner Lin Van Hek — whose own ‘80s hit Intimacy featured in Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Terminator — had owned the one-bedroom property as a weekender for 25 years.
Dolce previously told the Herald Sun he and Van Hek stumbled across the “beautiful building in the middle of nowhere” while on a country drive and “bought it on the spot”.
He said they’d had a “magical time” at the 1904-built former Methodist church, which retained original arched leadlight windows, wooden floors and a cathedral ceiling, and featured a modest extension at the back.
CoreLogic records show the couple listed the property in August 2017 and had been searching for a buyer since.
Ms Teal said the “piece of history” on a 4100sq m block “attracted a lot of interest”, including from prospective buyers from England and Sydney.
But its farm zoning had put off several parties.
“It’s been a delight to have somebody (purchase it) who will appreciate it as much as Joe has,” she said.
The church was built by Natte Yallock locals using handmade bricks, and served the community for about 60 years.
The farming township is home to just 94 people, according to the latest census. But Ms Teal said the church was close to Avoca and wineries, and backed on to a primary school.
It’ll be just one of many projects keeping Jones busy in 2020.
He’ll perform The Beetles hits as part of the Arts Centre’s All You Need Is Love show on February 14, continue touring Southern Sons songs, and is set to “tour and record a few songs” with big music names including Russell Morris and Darryl Braithwaite.
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Originally published as Joe Dolce: Shaddap You Face singer sells church conversion to musician