The following lists events that happened during 1909 in the Commonwealth of Australia. Incumbents Monarch – Edward VII Governor-General – William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley Prime Minister – Andrew Fisher (until 2 June), then Alfred Deakin Chief Justice – Samuel Griffith State premiers Premier of New South Wales – Charles Wade Premier of South Australia – Thomas Price (until 5 June), then Archibald Peake Premier of Queensland – William Kidston Premier of Tasmania – John Evans (until 19 June), then Sir Elliott Lewis (until 20 October), then John Earle (until 27 October), then Sir Elliott Lewis Premier of Western Australia – Sir Newton Moore Premier of Victoria – Sir Thomas Bent (until 8 January), then John Murray State governors Governor of New South Wales – Admiral Sir Harry Rawson (until 24 March), then Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford (from 28 May) Governor of South Australia – Sir George Le Hunte (until 2 January), then Sir Day Bosanquet (from 29 March) Governor of Queensland – Frederic Thesiger, 3rd Baron Chelmsford (until 26 May), then Sir William MacGregor (from 2 December) Governor of Tasmania – Sir Gerald Strickland (until 20 May), then Sir Harry Barron (from 29 September) Governor of Western Australia – Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford (until 23 April), then Sir Gerald Strickland (from 31 May) Governor of Victoria – Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael Events 8 January – Sir Thomas Bent retires as Premier of Victoria, and is replaced by John Murray. 9 March – Electric trams begin operation in Adelaide. 31 March – Victoria is the last Australian state to grant women's suffrage. 30 April – Tasmania begins to use the Hare-Clark single transferable vote method in the 1909 general election. 26 May – The Protectionist Party and the Free Trade Party merge to form the Fusion Party, led by Alfred Deakin. 2 June – The Labor government of Andrew Fisher is ousted from office by Alfred Deakin's Fusion Party, and Deakin becomes Prime Minister for the third time. 5 June – Steam trams begin operation in Rockhampton, Queensland. 18 to 21 August – Disastrous floods strike Victoria. 6 October – Martha Rendell becomes the last woman to be hanged in Western Australia. 9 October – John Earle becomes Premier of Tasmania, leading Tasmania's first Labor government, however Earle's minority government only lasts a week. 6 December - the Newcastle–Bolgart Railway was opened. 10 December – The University of Queensland