The following lists events that happened during 1885 in South Africa.
Incumbents Governor of the Cape of Good Hope and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: Hercules Robinson. Governor of the Colony of Natal: Henry Ernest Gascoyne Bulwer. State President of the Orange Free State: Jan Brand. State President of the South African Republic: Paul Kruger. Prime Minister of the Cape of Good Hope: Thomas Upington.
Events February 26 – The Berlin Conference ends and the Scramble for Africa begins.
September 30 – A British force abolishes the Boer republic of Stellaland and adds it to British Bechuanaland.
November 28 – The railway line from Cape Town to Kimberley is completed.The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 13.
Births 31 January – Marthinus Johannes de Jong, landscape painter, is born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Deaths
Railways
Railway lines opened 2 September – Cape Eastern – Molteno to Aliwal North, .Report for year ending 31 December 1909, Cape Government Railways, Section VIII - Dates of Opening and the Length of the different Sections in the Cape Colony, from the Year 1873 to 31st December, 1909. 28 November – Cape Western – Oranjerivier to Kimberley, . 21 December – Natal – Merrivale to Estcourt, .Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 182, ref. no. 200954-13
References