The previous Member for Mackellar was James Carlton (LP) who represented the electorate from 1977 to 1994. He resigned from Parliament on 14 January 1994 and the writ for the by-election was issued on 18 February 1994.

Demographic rating:	Outer Metropolitan
Seat status following 1993 election:	Safe Liberal
Two-party preferred 1993 election:	Labor:	38.84%
	LNP:	61.16%
Two-candidate preferred 1994 by-election:	Liberal:	60.27%
	Independent:	39.73%

A total of eight candidates nominated for the Mackellar by-election held on 26 March 1994 compared with five at the 1993 federal election.

Candidates	Votes	%
Fiona E McLeod (GRN)	3 940	5.88
Peter Consandine (RPA)	586	0.87
Stephen Ross Wells (IND)	2 063	3.08
Bob Ellis (IND)	15 501	23.14
John Phillips (AFI)	5 464	8.16
Godfrey Bigot	582	0.87
Brian Johnson (DEM)	3 851	5.75
#Bronwyn Bishop (LP)	34 999	52.25
Formal	66 986	96.85
Informal	2 181	3.15
Total	69 167	87.63

A total of 78 932 electors were enrolled for the Mackellar by-election. The Divisional Returning Officer for Mackellar declared Bronwyn Bishop (LP) as the new Member on 31 March 1994.