William Packer was born in Doynton, a small farming village in Gloucestershire, England, on March 29, 1863, and arrived at Port Adelaide on October 20, 1882 on the 'Corona'. With him were his parents William and Mary, younger brother George, and sister Mary Anne. William's oldest brother Nathaniel, who had arrived in the colony in 1866, met them.

William married Harriet, a daughter of William and Sophia Hutchinson of Athelstone, on December 23, 1884.

After working at Highbury and Highercombe with his brothers Thomas and George, William returned to Athelstone. He purchased a market garden (the old Marryat property) in 1901. Selling this in 1908, William moved to Paradise where he established a large market garden of approximately 80 acres.

This property was initially worked by the firm of W. Packer and Sons and subsequently by Packer Brothers - all sons of William, viz.: William Alfred (Bill), Thomas, Joseph, Frank, Frederick and Edwin. Another of William's sons, Matthew, had his own market gardens at Paradise and Dernancourt.

William died on July 19, 1944, and is buried at Payneham with his wife Harriet.

The Packer family was renowned for the quality of the celery they grew, - a vegetable William is believed to have introduced to South Australia.

The family was also active in local government; - Nathaniel and William with the Highercombe Council, - Matthew with the Tea Tree Gully and Campbelltown Councils, - Frank with the Tea Tree Gully Council, - and William's great grandson David, with the Campbelltown Council.

William and Harriet Packer (nee Hutchinson)