A by-election was held for the
New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of
Tenterfield on 3 December 1861 because
Robert Meston resigned.[1] Meston sent a letter to the
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly which stated "As I find it very inconvenient for my affairs at present to attend on the very inopportune sittings of the New Smith Wales Parliament, I hereby resign my seat as representative of the Tenterfield electorate".[2]