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. 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.