Edward Combes had been the member for Orange, until his seat was declared vacant because the Elections and Qualifications Committee held that his position of Executive Commissioner for New South Wales at the Paris International Exhibition was an office of profit under the crown.[3]
Thomas Dalveen was a publican from Bathurst.[4] This was his third attempt at election, having previously been unsuccessful at East Macquarie in 1878,[5] and Orange in March 1879.[6] He would stand four more times over the following four years, but was unsuccessful on each occasion.[7]
Result
1879 East Macquarie by-election Friday 15 August [8]