is established. 14 December – New South Wales passes law ceding land to the Commonwealth for construction of the national capital, Canberra. 21 December – British Field Marshal Lord Kitchener arrives in Darwin after an invitation from Alfred Deakin to review Australia's military and defence plans. 24 December – Former Prime Minister Sir George Reid resigns from Parliament to become Australia's first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Science and technology 16 July – The first powered aeroplane flight in Australia is made. Arts and literature Sport 29 January – New South Wales wins the Sheffield Shield 15 June – Representatives from England, Australia and South Africa meet at Lord's and form the Imperial Cricket Conference. 21 August – Andrew Wood wins the inaugural men's national marathon title, clocking 2:59:15 in Brisbane. Though billed as the Australasian Championships, the Australian Athletic Union did not consider it to be the official championship. 31 August – The first interstate ice hockey competition is held in Melbourne. 14 September - The 1909 NSWRFL season culminates in the grand final which was forfeited by Balmain to make South Sydney back-to-back premiers 29 October – The South Melbourne Swans defeat the Carlton Blues 4.14 (38) to 4.12 (36) in the 1909 VFL Grand Final. 2 November – Prince Foote wins the Melbourne Cup. Births 19 January – Leon Goldsworthy, explosives expert (died 1994) 8 February – Elisabeth Murdoch, philanthropist (died 2012) 13 February – Reginald Ansett, businessman and aviator (died 1981) 2 March – Percival Bazeley, scientist (died 1991) 19 March – Nell Hall Hopman, tennis player (died 1968) 26 March – Chips Rafferty, actor (died 1971) 9 April – Robert Helpmann, dancer and choreographer (died 1986) 23 May – William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle, Governor General of Australia (died 1991) 15 June – Cyril Walsh, High Court judge (died 1973) 20 June – Errol Flynn, Australian actor (died 1959) 23 June – Keith Virtue, aviator (died 1980) 6 July – Eric Reece, Premier of Tasmania (died 1999) 9 September – Decima Norman, athlete (died 1983) 10 September – Dorothy Hill, geologist (died 1998) 3 December – Stanley Burbury, Governor of Tasmania (died 1995) Deaths 9 February – Charles Conder, artist (born and died in the United Kingdom) (b. 1868) 4 March – Max Hirsch, Victorian politician, businessman and economist (born in Prussia and died in Russia) (b. 1852) 14 March – William Charles