The 1883 Upper Hunter colonial by-election was held on 6 March 1883 for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Upper Hunter because of the resignation of John McElhone after a heated argument with the member for Mudgee Adolphus Taylor in which McElhone challenged Taylor to resign and both would contest Taylor's seat.[1][2] The Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate reported that despite McElhone saying he would not stand for Upper Hunter, he had been nominated without his authority.[3]