He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1894 to 1896, representing the electorate of East Torrens.
Packham was born in Sussex, England, and his family migrated to South Australia when he was seven, arriving in Holdfast Bay on the Moffat on 16 December 1839.
The family resided for some time on the land that would later house the General Post Office, Adelaide.
[1][2][3] He entered the House of Assembly on his third attempt when he won the 1894 by-election, following the appointment of Playford as Agent-General in London.
[4] He suffered a serious injury while a parliamentarian when his buggy capsized and spent several months recuperating, though he eventually made a full recovery.