A kid with questions – and a community behind him

Jacob grew up just a few suburbs away, the older of two brothers in a close-knit family, where Friday night dinners were non-negotiable.

‘We’d all sit down together every week, ask each other questions and just talk,’ he says. ‘About life, sport, travel, everything.’

That closeness is something Jacob still values. ‘We still come together every Friday night. It’s our reset for the week,’ he says. ‘That sense of showing up – it’s something my parents worked hard to instil in us. And it’s what I try to bring to every relationship today.’

He was a sporty kid, by his own admission. ‘I did everything… footy, basketball, swimming, tennis. I was obsessed. I reckon I’ve broken nearly every bone,’ he laughs. And he’s not kidding; his tenacity earned him the Most Courageous Player award at his local footy club when he was only 10.

‘I’ve always had that in-and-under energy,’ he says between sips of coffee. ‘Even now, I love being in the thick of the action.’

 

 

One uniform, two weeks to learn a language and a lifetime of perspective

Jacob’s first real challenge came straight after school. He spent a year overseas, volunteering for three months in an ambulance.

‘I did a two-week course to learn a new language – and then I was out on the road,’ he says.

‘We often got called out to drownings on the beach. There were waves crashing, people screaming, and we were doing CPR right there on the sand.’

Experiences like that changed him.

‘It taught me what pressure really is. Real estate doesn’t even come close,’ he says. ‘It also gave me perspective. It made me realise how lucky we are to live the way we do.’

Degrees, detours and figuring it out

Back in Melbourne after his gap year, Jacob dove into university life with his usual mix of energy and curiosity.

‘I triple-majored in finance, economics and marketing,’ he says. ‘I was always interested in business – but I used uni as a chance to try different things.’

He worked in hospitality, travelled as often as possible, and then had the opportunity to intern at The Wall Street Journal in New York. ‘It was incredible,’ he says. ‘Living there in my early 20s, working in a big business, learning how things really worked… it opened my eyes.’

In between leisure and lectures, Jacob and a group of friends also started a student-run speaker series. ‘We brought in people like the founder of Afterpay and the CEO of Uber Eats,’ he says. ‘It was about connecting with ideas and figuring out what made businesses tick.’

Another coffee – this time, a magic – arrives at the table. Jacob nods his thanks and takes a sip. ‘That was a turning point,’ he adds. ‘I started to realise what I loved most – and that’s building things from the ground up.’

 

 

The family business calling – quietly, at first

Even while he was off exploring other paths, Gary Peer & Associates was never far from Jacob’s mind. Likely because his father, Phillip Kingston, co-founded it.

‘I grew up in the office,’ he says. ‘They had this big bell to ring when someone made a sale – and from when I was probably five or six, I’d be the one running in to ring it myself.’

By his late teens, Jacob was back – helping with marketing and social media while he continued his studies.

‘There was no marketing department back then,’ he says. ‘I started our Instagram, built it from scratch. Helped redesign the website. It was all pretty hands-on.’

And then there was the van.

 

 

That coffee van in the driveway

One morning, Jacob and Phillip were having coffee (typical), when they came up with an idea.

‘We were talking about auctions,’ Jacob says. ‘They’re like our game day, there’s always lots of energy. But we wondered – how do we make them more welcoming?’

And the answer, of course, was the ultimate community glue: a good ol’ cup of joe.

‘We started the coffee van in our driveway, before eventually bringing it out to auctions,’ Jacob continues. ‘My mates helped run it. Mum washed the tea towels. It was all very grassroots.’

But the impact was immediate.

‘People would come out of their houses just to grab a coffee, and then they’d stay for the auction,’ he says. ‘It made people feel more comfortable to get amongst it.’

Today, what began as an idea from a father and son’s morning ritual has evolved into a full-fledged hospitality arm with over 30 staff members.

‘It showed me how you can take a simple idea and build something meaningful,’ Jacob says. ‘That was my first big project. I sourced the vehicle, worked with designers on the van branding, organised supplies, trained staff and managed rosters.

‘I was responsible for every aspect of the operation each weekend. And those early lessons in leadership and organisation have stayed with me ever since.’

 

 

Earning his stripes to Partner

After a stint at a tech startup and a brief foray into commercial real estate, Jacob officially joined the Gary Peer team full time.

‘I realised most businesses are essentially sales businesses,’ he says. ‘And if I was going to learn sales properly, why wouldn’t I do it here?’

He made his way through the business – marketing, rentals, residential sales – before finding his place in New Projects. ‘It combines everything I’m interested in,’ he says. ‘Business, marketing, architecture, economics. The perfect mix.’

And the secret to its success?

‘It’s not just about the site,’ he states. ‘It’s about the relationship. When you look after a developer properly, they come back. That’s how you build trust.’

He credits Director Julian Millman for guiding his growth. ‘Julian taught me everything I know about projects,’ Jacob says. ‘We’re very different, but that’s what makes it work. We’ve built something strong.’

And recently, Jacob reached a milestone of his own: becoming Partner.

‘It’s a huge honour,’ he says. ‘I’ve grown up around this business and learned from so many incredible people. I’m really proud to be recognised, but it’s also motivates me to keep contributing even more.’

The case for the family business

Ask Jacob what drives him, and the answer comes without pause.

‘I care,’ he says. ‘I care more than most, because this is a family business. When it’s your name on the door, it means something.’

He speaks with admiration for his father and the business he built with Gary Peer.

‘Dad works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. Managing 150 people, it’s remarkable. I’ve learned a lot from just watching him. And Gary has been a huge influence too. He’s known me since I was born, and he’s been a great mentor over the years.’

But Jacob’s approach is his own.

‘I want to build something, too,’ he admits. ‘New Projects is just getting started. We’ve only scratched the surface. There’s so much more we can do, and that’s exciting.’

 

 

A full life outside the office

These days, Jacob lives in Prahran with his partner, Tal.

‘She and I go for runs, hang at the beach, catch up with mates,’ he lists. ‘And when it’s time for date night, you’ll usually catch us sharing a meal at Studio Amaro, then washing it down with a drop at Albert’s Wine Bar.’

All the while, Jacob’s usually planning his next adventure.

‘I always try to have a trip booked,’ he says. ‘Hiking in South America, skiing in North America – anything outdoors, really.’

He takes a final sip of coffee and wraps up his career and life to date in one, simple sentiment.

‘I’m an extrovert,’ he says. ‘I get my energy from people. Whether it’s work, travel or just sitting in a café like this one… for me, it’s always been about people.’

 

 

 

Want to get to know even more members of our team? Hear their stories on The Peer Blog.