Mayor 1954 - 1956
The son of F. Hughes he was educated at Launceston High School and served with the Tasmanian Education Department from 1927 to 1935. He was a Squadron Leader in the R.A.A.F from 1939 to 1945 and was Deputy Headmaster of The Armidale School from 1947 to 1950. Davis Hughes was an alderman of council from 1948 until his election to the Legislative Assembly in a 1950 by-election caused by the election of D.H. Drummond, a former Minister of Education to the House of Representatives. Defeated in 1954 by Cahill he was re-elected to council that year and served a term of almost three years as mayor. He resigned as mayor in April prior to his re-election in 1956. He was appointed N.S.W. Public Works Minister in 1965 and served in that role until 1973. He was a member of the Council of the University College and the University of New England. He was leader of the N.S.W. Country Party in 1958 and 1959 and Agent-General for N.S.W. from 1973-1978. He was granted Freeman of the City on 29 November 1972.