On a hillside overlooking the sea in Fatumano, Timor-Leste, rests the grave of Jape Kong Su, a prominent figure in the region’s property development and a symbol of resilience for his family and community. Kong Su, who passed away at 97 in September 2022, was laid to rest on land he personally selected, a place that has become a family park and a testament to his lasting legacy.
Kong Su’s journey began in Balibo, Portuguese Timor, where he was born into the local Chinese community. His early life was marked by significant hardship, including survival through the Japanese occupation during World War II and the turbulent Indonesian invasion in 1976. Despite these challenges, he emerged as a determined entrepreneur, eventually relocating to Darwin, Australia, following Cyclone Tracy in 1974. There, he established the Jape Group in 1976, a company that has grown over generations into one of Darwin’s most successful family businesses.
After Indonesia's withdrawal from Timor in 1999, Kong Su returned to Timor-Leste and became the country’s largest private investor. His developments include Timor Plaza in Dili, which opened in 2011 and has become a significant commercial landmark. However, the project was not without controversy; it involved a land dispute affecting hundreds of local families, with some cases resulting in court proceedings and compensation payments.
The Jape Group also operates in Australia, with the Jape Homemaker Village in Darwin serving as a cornerstone since 1989, alongside ventures in Adelaide and Sydney. Alan Jape, Kong Su’s son, has been involved in the family business since 1978 and currently serves as chairman of Jape Group Australia. His younger sister, Pamela Jape, who rejoined the family enterprise decades ago after a career in auditing, now holds the role of managing director.
Both siblings credit their late father with instilling a strong work ethic, patience, and a forward-looking vision that propelled the company through various economic challenges, including the late 1980s financial crisis. The family emphasizes a collective approach to leadership, balancing individual strengths with shared values. Pamela notes that despite their age difference, she and Alan collaborate effectively, guided by the overarching influence of their father’s legacy.
The Jape family’s narrative is rooted deeply in a commitment to education and community, hallmarks that began with a family directive to prioritize learning over immediate business expansion. Their mother, Lai Min Ha, now 98 and living with dementia, played a vital role in maintaining family cohesion and contributed to the business by overseeing coffee export operations in Timor.
Today, Jape Group employs approximately 50 people in Darwin and over 400 in Timor-Leste. Pamela Jape spends significant time in Dili, focusing on long-term corporate structure and preparing the next generation for future leadership roles—a task approached with openness toward new family members’ career choices.
The family views their work as an important link between Australia and Timor-Leste, having witnessed and contributed to the rebuilding of both Darwin and Dili. They credit their success to perseverance, unity, and a willingness to embrace risk ahead of broader market confidence.
Kong Su remained actively involved in the business until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, after which his health declined. His final wishes and ongoing influence continue to shape the family’s direction as they work to sustain and expand the company he built from modest beginnings amid adversity.