Hill was elected to the
Queensland Legislative Assembly in the
electoral district of Gregory on 14 November 1878 at the
1878 colonial election. He resigned from the seat on 20 February 1882, having delayed until a suitable successor (
Thomas McWhannell) was found. Thomas McWhannell won the resulting by-election on 21 March 1882. In the
1883 election, Lumley Hill contested
Cook (then a 2-member electorate) but was unsuccessful, being defeated by
Frederick Cooper and
John Hamilton. However, allegations of "ballot stuffing" surfaced, alleging there were too many votes cast at the California Creek polling station given the number of electors and the unsuccessful candidates, Hill and
Thomas Campbell petitioned to overturn the ballot. In December 1883, arrests were made in connection with the ballot stuffing. On 4 March 1884, the Elections and Qualifications Committee determined that Frederick Cooper should not be elected and that Thomas Campbell should be elected instead. On 4 August 1885, Thomas Campbell resigned after having been declared insolvent. Hill won the resulting by-election on 16 September 1885. Hill held Cook until 26 May 1888 when he did not contest Cook in the
1888 election as he had announced his retirement from politics. However, he then decided to contest the election in
Port Curtis, but was unsuccessful. Hill contested
Stanley in the
1902 election but was not successful. ==Later life==