Aberdeen sits on the New England Highway between Muswellbrook and Scone. The town was conceived by Thomas Potter Macqueen who claimed a grant there in 1825. The town was approved in 1838 by the Governor, and named Aberdeen in honour of George Gordon, Fourth Earle of Aberdeen, Knight of the Garter and distinguished British scholar and statesman.

In its early years Aberdeen was often considered a curiously ambitious name for such a small town. Around 1850 a newspaper correspondent by the name of Harold MacKenzie, illuminated this irony:

"Aberdeen could only boast a shingle roof public house, a store, and a few other buildings more or less dilapidated. In a word the place slept".

The advent of the railway in 1870 brought some growth into the town. Although not in use today the original railway bridge still stands. But before 1890 the only industry to boast of was timber cutting at the "Old Mill".

However in 1890, a London shareholding group sought an appropriate site for the establishment of a chilling and freezing meat works for export back home and elsewhere. The Australian Chilling and Freezing Company Ltd. settled upon Aberdeen for this venture, and this welcomed investment saw Aberdeen flourish. Although it has changed hands twice, this venture continues today.

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