October 1: Labour Day in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and South Australia (2007); National Day in the People's Republic of China (1949); Independence Day in Cyprus and Nigeria (both 1960), Tuvalu (1978) and Palau (1994).
- 331 BC – Alexander the Great of Macedon defeated Darius III of Persia at the Battle of Gaugamela, and was subsequently crowned "King of Asia" in a ceremony in Arbela.
- 1890 – At the urging of preservationist John Muir, the United States Congress established Yosemite National Park in California.
- 1949 – Chinese Civil War: Chinese Communist Party leader Mao Zedong proclaimed the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
- 1964 – Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the first Shinkansen line of high-speed railways in Japan, opened. (0 Series Shinkansen train pictured)
More events on this day... Recent days: September 30 – September 29 – September 28
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