The Neville and Bourke families arrived in Sydney on the Alquis in 1837, sponsored by the Governor George Gipps to migrate and settle in Melbourne.

[4] The railway station was opened on 8 October 1877 and was a part of the east link connecting Melbourne to Pakenham and other eastern towns.

[6] The most common countries of birth outside of Australia were England 4.0%, India 2.8%, New Zealand 2.3%, Sri Lanka 1.3% and Philippines 1.0%.

[9] The suburb also contains part of the Pakenham East railway depot, housing trains for use on Melbourne's commuter rail system.

[10] The main north–south roads through Pakenham head north to Healesville and south to Koo Wee Rup.

Pakenham is in the coverage range of all the commercial radio stations in Melbourne, yet are also locally serviced by 94.3 Star FM, whose studios are situated in Warragul, about 45 kilometres (28 miles) away from the town.

Services such as WIN Gippsland and Southern Cross Nine are available to viewers, yet the signal strength tends to become stronger in the east of the town.

The aquatic centre includes a 25m indoor pool, with a gym, group fitness, creche, eight multipurpose sports courts and food facilities all incorporated in the one building.

[11] Pakenham currently has one tennis club but proposals for a second are under consideration, with planned expenses for the clubhouse alone around $20 million.

[15] Sporting activities in Pakenham include horse racing, lawn bowls, golf, baseball, field hockey, cricket, little athletics, tennis, netball, floorball, basketball, rugby league, gridiron and Australian Rules Football The local gridiron team, Pakenham Silverbacks are the reigning divisional champions.

[16] The Pakenham Pumas baseball club has senior men's, women's and junior teams competing in both the winter and summer competitions.

Hawthorn premiership ruckrover Peter Russo was raised in Pakenham as was former Collingwood speedster Tyson Goldsack.

Pakenham basketball association has new team called Officer Bulls and they train students and play competitions at Cardinia Cultural Club.

A motorsport precinct that had two small clubs based in the area is proposed to be built up into a larger facility called Cardinia Motor Recreation and Education Park.

[24] The smell was found to originate from the Drovers Place area where Transpacific Industries, a leading organic waste recycler, was based.

[25][26][27] Concerns over the rapid pace of urban expansion in the Pakenham area have also been raised, as traditional farmland surrounding the town has been rezoned to allow for the development of housing estates, causing protests by some residents who have sought to have these undeveloped or 'green wedge' lands protected.