A Scottish concern established in the early 1800’s by a resident of Aberdeen named George Thompson. George operated a small fleet of sailing ships to such far away countries as Canada, South America, Asia and the Mediterranean. During the 1850’s George believed that steam propulsion was the way of the future and so, by the end of the 19th century he owned 8 steamships on the England to Australia run. The Aberdeen Line ships were made to retain something of the look of a sailing ship, they quite often featured a bowsprit adorned with a figurehead extending forward from a clipper-type bow.
In 1905 the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company (White Star Line) and Shaw Savill and Albion jointly took control of George Thompson’s company. Up until 1926, the Aberdeen Line name was used by the new joint owners. It was in June of this same year that an Englishman, by the name of Lord Kylsant purchased the Aberdeen Line and amalgamated it with the Australian Commonwealth Line to form the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line.
REF: AUSTRALIAS GOLDEN ERA OF SHIPS by STUART BREMER
