Comedian Joe Avati has revealed his new plans for a spectacular Hawthorn East home that could be under construction as soon as July.
International comedian Joe Avati has revealed revised plans for his future Hawthorn East mansion complete with a secret speak-easy, salami cellar and wellness centre.
The Aussie stand-up, who just locked in his first off-Broadway show at New York’s Sony Hall theatre, has also just sold a pair of townhouses he developed in Preston — with the deal coming to fruition as he was grappling with a mega blizzard in the US, in February.
Known for his humorous take on Italian family life, Avati’s road to fame kicked off in 2000 with his first show La Dole-Cheque Vita.
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Now into the 28th year of a global comedy career, he regularly tours Europe, the UK, Canada and the US — where he has just returned from and is due back in a few months time.
With his success leading to almost 200 tour dates in 2027, and a heavily booked year ahead in 2026, Avati puts a high premium on quality time with his family.
Avati first revealed his plans for the epic Hawthorn East renovation and extension in 2024 — shortly after being named Australian Club Entertainment Awards’ Comedian of the Year.
The upgrade, tipped to end with the home being worth $14m, included features like a hidden speak-easy behind a book case and a wellness centre with a spa and sauna, as well as a salami cellar.
The pool and spa area have moved outdooes in the new plans — but are still an impressive space for visiting friends or family time.
Metal-framed arched windows provide an almost warehouse-style aesthetic.
Dining spaces will be flanked by a commercial-grade kitchen.
They’re all still on the list, but revised plans for the home will ditch a rooftop terrace and move the once-indoor pool outside.
The main living zone, recreation spaces and kitchen will all now be aligned around a central courtyard.
Ridolfi Architecture boss Dominic Ridolfi is handling the project — and worked on Avati’s former bachelor pad, a Princes Hill terrace restyled as a converted warehouse.
The Hawthorn East home named Elimatta, an indigenous word meaning “my home” or “our home”, was originally designed by architect Nahum Barnet, famed for Her Majesty’s Theatre and the Austral Building on Collins St, Melbourne.
With expectations the revised plans will be approved in the coming months and construction underway by July, Avati will miss a large chunk of the project — with close to 200 days touring on his calendar next year.
Open-plan living spaces are intended to ensure plenty of natural light.
Indoor and outdoor living have both been closely considered.
The home is expected to have a major focus on entertaining in style.
“There’s a lot of new people coming to shows,” he said.
“And the show got picked up off-Broadway for a one-off show.”
Avati is also laughing all the way to the bank after a surprise double sale for the Preston townhouse project he put on the market recently, via Nelson Alexander’s Mark Verrocchi.
“We had a really good offer prior to auction and ended up having a boardroom auction with four bidders,” Mr Verrocchi said.
That led to the sale of the first Beauchamp St home for $1.24m. A few days later there was still interest so arrangements were made to sell the second, and the buyer who had come fourth in the first auction wound up purchasing the second home for $1.26m.
Mr Verrocchi said such sales were somewhat rare, but that where homes were ready to move into — buyers were likely to chase them.
Joe Avati at a packed out show in 2024. Picture: Sheldon Ang Media.
52B Beauchamp St, Preston, and its neighbouring townhouse sold well above expectations.
Avati was in New York as the second sale went through, arriving just after one of the 10 biggest snowstorms in Manhattan’s history.
“They were nice townhouses, not over the top for the price range, but they had good finishes and, ensuites for the three bedrooms, and laneway access and a courtyard,” Avati said.
“And it’s a good little area, with Preston Market right nearby.”
An Evening With Joe Avati show is slated for Clayton’s Lioni Social Club on Friday, March 13, and a sold out show at Eolian Hall in Melbourne on March 14.
He’s then touring Western Australia and South Australia in April and May, but back in Victoria for a Good Old Days show in August.
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