A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Tenterfield on 3 December 1861 because Robert Meston resigned. 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".