He farmed for a while in the Toodyay district and then went to Beverley, serving on the Beverley Road Board in 1876.
In 1888, Lukin went into partnership with his cousin Charles Harper.
He also had interests in various properties in the Kimberley.
Lukin first stood for parliament at the 1894 Legislative Council elections (the first to be held since the advent of responsible government in 1890), but was defeated.
He had success on his second attempt, winning the 1899 by-election occasioned by the resignation of John Howard Taylor.
Lukin served in parliament until his death in Beverley in September 1901, aged 54.
He had contracted measles, and died from complications.