Vale Dolly Stubbs: A Legacy at the Heart of Doltone Hospitality Group

Doltone Hospitality Group honours the life and legacy of Dolly Stubbs, whose contribution, alongside her late husband Tony, established the foundations of a family business that would grow into a hospitality group spanning Australia and New Zealand.

The Doltone story began in 1969, when Dolly and Tony established Doltone House at Sylvania Waters in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. The name they created by joining “Dol” and “Tone” remains at the heart of the business today, connecting the group’s growth to the people and family behind its beginnings.

A defining moment in the business’s history came in 1994, when Dolly and the Stubbs family placed their trust in a 25-year-old Paul Signorelli to carry the business forward. That trust marked an important chapter in the evolution of Doltone House and the foundations of what would become Doltone Hospitality Group.

“Dolly Stubbs was a remarkable woman whose vision, determination and passion for hospitality laid the foundations of what Doltone House has become today.

 I first met Dolly in 1994, when I was a young man looking to purchase the business she and her husband Tony had established in 1969. I remember she was concerned that I was too young to take on such a responsibility. Little did we know then what the future would hold.

 Dolly and Tony created more than just a hospitality venue. They created a place where families gathered, milestones were celebrated and lifelong memories were made.

 Over 30 years later, I remain incredibly proud to have carried their legacy forward, growing Doltone House into one of Australia’s leading hospitality groups while proudly retaining their names.

 Dolly will always hold a special place in my heart and in the history of Doltone House. Buildings may change, businesses may grow, but we must never forget the people who laid the foundations.

 Dolly’s legacy will live on through every celebration, every family gathering and every special occasion held under the Doltone House name.”

 Paul Signorelli OAM

Executive Chairman, Doltone Hospitality Group

From its beginnings as a single venue in Sylvania Waters, the business has grown and diversified, welcoming new venues, retail experiences and opportunities across the hospitality sector. Through that growth, the Doltone name has remained a constant connection to the family’s original vision and the legacy established by Dolly and Tony.

The story is also a reminder of the significance of trust in a family business: the confidence to entrust what has been built to the next generation of leadership, and the responsibility to carry that legacy forward.

Today, Dolly’s contribution remains embedded in the group’s identity. Her name is part of its history, its story and the many occasions through which Doltone continues to bring people together. On behalf of the Doltone Hospitality Group family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Dolly’s family and loved ones. We recognise with gratitude the foundations she and Tony established and the enduring legacy that continues to shape our business.