Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

The Antarctic

Landing place beside Omond House, Scotia Bay

Omond House was the rather grand name given in honour of the Scottish meteorologist Robert T Omond to the building erected in 1903 on Laurie Island in the South Orkney Islands to accommodate shore-based members of the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition.

The site chosen was on a shingle beach forming a narrow isthmus between the east and west parts of the island, with ready access to the surrounding sea on both the north and south coasts.

This choice of location enabled exploration of parts of the island which would have been impossible to reach overland because of the icy conditions. These were reached by boat from the coast when the sea itself wasn't frozen.