Following his return in 1946, he became an active member of the Apex Club of Perth, and also joined the Liberal Party.
He worked as an industrial advocate with the Western Australian Employers Federation from 1935, and in 1957 was elected to Nedlands City Council; he served seven years as Deputy Mayor.
In 1966, Darling relocated to Sydney to become Executive Director of the New South Wales Employers' Federation.
[1] In 1976, Darling was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council as a Liberal member.
He retired from his position with the Employers' Federation in 1980 due to ill health.