D. Fraser Lumsden began a newspaper career working on a small weekly paper in Yorkshire before moving on to newspapers in Huddersfield, Bradford and Manchester. He spent five years as the chief reporter for the Western Mail, Cardiff. In 1884 he was recommended to the editor of the South Australian Register and took up an engagement with that paper for two years before joining the staff of the Argus, Melbourne. In 1888, Lumsden took charge of the newspaper's staff covering the Centennial International Exhibition.
Following the Exhibition, Lumsden joined the Victorian Hansard staff. (In 1889 he published Victorian Parliamentary Companion : First Year.) He later worked for the Commonwealth as a Senate reporter.
Lumsden's recreational activities were photography and cycling.
(Source: 'Australian Autobiographies', vol.2, edited by A. G. Stephens)