[4] After undertaking a tour of Europe, Hughes then returned to Sydney and in 1882 entered the legal profession, being articled to T. M. Slattery and was admitted as a solicitor on 28 May 1887.

[5] Hughes entered public life in New South Wales when he openly supported Australian Federation in 1898 and became secretary to his brother John who was at the time serving as Representative of Government in Legislative Council for George Reid's Free Trade Party.

In January 1899 he accompanied Reid, as his secretary, to the Federal Conference of Premiers in Melbourne which involved placing the colony's interests in the draft constitution.

[6] Hughes instead found success in his role as Alderman on Sydney City Council for Bourke Ward, which he had been elected to on 5 September 1898.

[4] With James Graham, he helped to organise the Citizens' Vigilante Committee which assisted in controlling the first plague outbreak in 1900.

[1] He was awarded the rank of Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (KCSG) by Pope Benedict XV in 1915.

Sir Thomas rendered equally distinguished service to the State in the municipal and commercial spheres of activity.