‘The Odd Couple’: Friendship, business – and how Phillip and Gary are making both work

Phillip Kingston and Gary Peer.

Best mates since 1975. Business partners since 1986.

We sat down with Caulfield’s original dynamic duo to get their own unique takes on… each other!

To explore how 50 years of friendship have shaped their lives. And understand how, through it all, they’ve juggled close to four decades in business together.

The boys on the bus: How did Phillip and Gary first meet?

It was 1975, and a young Gary Peer sat on an idling bus, waiting to be taken to summer camp.

Then, with a hydraulic hiss, the bus doors opened – letting the final passenger, another boy of 12, on board.

The kid took the last seat, easing himself into the upholstery beside Gary.

That boy’s name was Phillip. And the rest, as they say, is history.

‘Both of us were a bit left of centre,’ says Gary. As he reflects, almost half a century later, on why the two’s bond was so instant and inseparable.

‘We were loners, in some ways: outsiders from our environment. It’s why we’ve always been drawn to people who’ve had a different journey in life to us. We love different points of view. And celebrating the diverse people providing them.’

As the 70s flashed by, Gary and Phillip became best mates. And, by the time the 80s were wrapping up, they were in business together.

They were best man at each other’s wedding; and, as the nineties gave way to the noughties and beyond, watched each other’s ankle-biters become adults.

Clients and friends affectionately dub them ‘The Odd Couple’. (Named after the 1968 film, and later the TV series, of the same name).

Let’s find out why!

Sheep and superhumans: What’s something people don’t know about the pair?

Our first question goes to Gary.

What’s something the world doesn’t know about Mr Phillip Kingston? (Be honest.)

Gary chuckles. And dishes the dirt – literally.

‘Despite his impeccable image, Phillip is actually always ready to get down and dirty,’ Gary chuckles. ‘I’ve seen Phillip drenching sheep and flying around his farm on a motorbike: fixing tractors and shooting guns.

‘Given his savvy, city-slicker persona, a lot of people would be surprised it’s the same person!’

Over to Phillip. What’s something people don’t know about the Gary Peer?

‘He’s a night owl,’ replies Phillip. ‘Gary rarely goes to bed before 2 or 3 am. It’s an incredible gift. He’s able to do more, simply because he’s awake for longer.

‘If he wasn’t such a procrastinator, he’d be superhuman!’

Gary’s nocturnal proclivities illustrate the pair’s contrasting – yet complementary – skillsets. Phillip, as a morning person, is up early. Leading to the duo’s long-running joke (or, perhaps, marketing slogan): between the two of them, they’re open 24 hours a day!

Night and day: What are the pair’s greatest strengths – and weaknesses?

Shared success – in business and friendship – relies on recognising each other’s strengths.

And weaknesses.

‘We’ve all got blind spots,’ Gary explains. ‘So Phillip and I keep each other aware of what we might be missing. He’s got his own perspectives; he’ll often see things I won’t.’

Right. So is there one trait each man covets – and is perhaps even a little envious of – in the other?

‘Gary’s patience is something I’m a great admirer of,’ Phillip says, butting in.

‘It’s part of his general disposition. It’s a beautiful quality. It enables him to have far deeper roots and relationships.’

Pondering the question, Gary offers his take. ‘Phillip’s better with money than I am!’

He chuckles. ‘Phillip is an outstanding negotiator – it blows me away. I’m always learning from that. His sense of style, too, is something I could never emulate. It keeps the business sharp!’

Personality differences in a friendship are commonplace. But, when translated into business, they can be a little harder to reconcile.

Unless, of course, you’re Gary and Phillip. Who wear opposing strong suits – like those of the pinstripe variety – with pride. And wield them to propel the business to new heights.

‘I’m a lot more about order and structure,’ says Gary.

‘Phillip, on the other hand, is more of a mess in that respect – but he’ll look like he’s better organised! My strengths are in practicality and planning. He focuses on the image of the business – how we present our brand to the world.’

Despite their differences, the two are almost always on the same page. Particularly, Gary emphasises, when it comes to growing the business – and nurturing its rich pool of talent.

‘We’re both on board with the way the business is growing. Phillip tends to have a very big vision.

‘My job? To manage that into something a bit more realistic!’

Matching wits, and workplaces: Why do Gary and Phillip share an office?

Phillip’s sheep-drenching. Gary’s insomniac-like approach to work. When it comes to shucking preconceptions, the pair are pros.

Another thing you might not know about them? They share an office. (The same Orrong Road base they launched the business from back in ’86, to be exact.)

Given their status and standing in the company, the pair’s workplace cohabitation raises a reasonable question. Why?

‘We’re constantly adding value to each other,’ says Gary. ‘I might be on the phone, and Phillip might give me something to use – or steal some of what I’m saying for himself!’

‘But we’re open to each other’s views,’ Phillip adds. ‘We’ll challenge each other daily: match our wits!’

That said, the pair’s sharing of the space goes beyond simply bouncing banter, or beliefs. It’s about buoyancy – keeping each other afloat in an industry that can, in turn, be both exhilarating and exhausting.

‘While we have a lot of natural energy, there are times when one or the other might be down – but we’re excellent at lifting each other up,’ Gary notes. ‘We feed off each other.’

Plus, when you can work from the same office you made your first sale from 37 years ago, why would you even want to upgrade?

‘We don’t need a large, luxurious office,’ says Phillip. ‘We don’t need to feel special. We get in, we work as hard as we can, and we go home. Then, we come back and do it all again the next day.

‘If we moved into a huge new building tomorrow, we’d still share an office.’

Gary agrees, looking around. ‘Though it might be a bit bigger!’

The recipe for success: What’s Gary and Phillip’s secret?

Friendship and business. What’s the formula?

‘Trust overrides it all,’ Gary says, unequivocal.

‘But you need a similar work ethic, too. We’ve never had to “look over our shoulder” at what the other’s doing, or worry that they’re sleeping on the job. We’re both hard workers, and we’re both accountable – to ourselves, and others.’

Phillip agrees.

‘I have absolute trust in Gary. This is a 48-year friendship and a 38-year business relationship – we’ve been through every possible thing imaginable together.

‘Births, deaths, divorces –’

‘Not our own…yet!' Gary hastily, humorously interjects.

‘– every conceivable difficulty and joy. But one thing I’ve never had to worry about was my trust in Gary.’

Implicit trust. A matching work ethic. Contrasting, yet compatible, skills and schedules.

And a shared stake not only in business – but in the precipices and plunges of the rollercoaster we call life. If Phillip and Gary were in the fast food (rather than the real estate) trade, these would be the 11 secret herbs and spices of their award-winning recipe for longevity.

Yet there are two more ingredients integral to Phillip and Gary’s success as mates (and magnates).

Laughter – and love.

‘We’ve always had a great sense of fun and humour,’ says Gary. ‘That’s something we’ve seen in each other; and enjoyed, together, throughout the decades.’

Phillip grins, giving his old mate a playful poke in the ribs, and speaks.

‘The other thing? I love Gary. I love him! To me, it really is that simple.’

Sliding Doors: What would it be like if they’d never met?

Asked for the highlight of their long-standing partnership, Phillip and Gary’s answers differ.

For Gary – always bantering – it was losing Phillip’s wedding ring mere minutes before the ceremony. For Phillip – who remains unimpressed at that particular memory – his highlight is the first sale the pair ever made together.

‘1986. 118a Kooyong Road, Caulfield North,’ he remembers. ‘The vendor was Linda Polonski.

‘We still remember our first clients. Heck, our first clients are still with us!’

Looking back, it’s hard not to see that day in 1975 as a kind of Sliding Doors moment. What if they’d ended up on different buses, for instance? Or if Phillip had missed it?

What if Gary’s seat had been taken? Or if Phillip ended up plonking himself down three seats behind – rather than alongside the one housing a young, cherubic Mr Peer?

It begs the question: If the pair had never met each other – and become firm friends – would either of them be in business? And, if they were, would it be as successful as what they’ve built?

‘Not a chance,’ says Gary, before pausing for a moment to think about this hypothetical business; to ponder that parallel universe.

‘Well, it would have been successful. But it would never have been as successful.

‘And it certainly wouldn’t have been as much fun!’

You’ve read about our dynamic duo. Now, read about Gary Peer’s super seven new Partners – and why they’re our wonders of the real estate world.