Scott McGregor (television presenter)

Infobox Celebrity


image_size = 150px
name = Scott McGregor
caption =
birth_date = Birth date and age|1957|10|22|mf=y
birth_place = Orange, NSW, Australia
occupation = Actor, television presenter
spouse = Wendy Gray
website = [http://www.otr.com.au Off The Rails]

Scott McGregor (born October 22, 1957) is an Australian actor, television presenter and railway enthusiast.

Early life

Scott McGregor was born in Orange, New South Wales where his parents had a farm. His father, Doug, was also editor of the "The Central Western Daily" newspaper. In 1969 the family moved to Mudgee where Doug McGregor became editor of the "Mudgee Guardian".

Scott was educated at The Scots College in Sydney. He commenced studying communications at the then Mitchell College of Advanced Education, now part of Charles Sturt University, before being accepted into the National Institute of Dramatic Art where he graduated in 1979.

Acting career

In the 1980s McGregor had leading stage acting roles in productions of the Perth Playhouse, Queensland Theatre Company, Marion St Theatre and Nimrod Company. From 1980 to early 2000s he had acting roles in many Australian television series including "The Young Doctors", "Skyways", "The Sullivans", "Cop Shop", "A Country Practice", "Sons and Daughters", "Police Rescue", "Home & Away", "Water Rats" and "All Saints".

From the 1997 he started turning to presenting lifestyle television as a travel and collectables presenter on The Lifestyle Channel programs "Out and About", "Australian Living" and "Australian Collections". From 2000 to 2002 he was a DIY presenter on "Better Homes and Gardens" and from 2002 to 2004 hosted the home renovation series "Room for Improvement" on the Seven Network.

In 1999 he combined television presenting with his interest in railways by hosting the travel series "Railway Adventures Across Australia". In 2004 he followed up with the series "Down The Line with Scott McGregor" covering railway journeys in Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam.

In 2005 McGregor presented " [http://www.australianicons.com.au/ Australian Icon Towns] " made for The History Channel. A second series was broadcast from January 2007.

Interest in railways

McGregor had a keen interest in railways since childhood. From the 1980s he started collecting railway memorabilia, including several vintage railway carriages. By 1989 he had collected so much he decided to sell some and opened a stall called "Off The Rails" at the now closed "Chelsea House" antiques emporium in Camperdown, New South Wales. Branches were later opened at Sydney's Central Railway Station and in Balmain. In 1992 a new "Off The Rails" shop was opened in Newtown. It moved again to a larger shop and restoration workshop at Camperdown in 1995. The shop closed in 1999 and "Off The Rails Collectables" now operates as a mail order business.

In 2005 McGregor opened a country retreat, "Ruwenzori", at his Mudgee property with accommodation in three historic railway carriages. As of 2006 the property nine railway carriages (one dating back to 1890), two railway station buildings, track, signals and associated memorabilia. He has appeared on "Collectors". I was living in Mudgee at the time when Scott started collecting old railway carriages I have had the plesure to go out with him to great places to get parts of old carriages that were on farm in the north west of New South Wales he is a very good friend to me and my father who at the was the railway station master at Mudgee from mid 1979 to 1983 this is where I met this great man. I also had the privillage to stay in one of his restored carriages for a week one time this was a very relaxing time away thanks old mate for this great week. = Personal life =

McGregor is married to television producer Wendy Gray. They have two daughters, Sophie and Hayley.

External links

*
* [http://www.otr.com.au Off The Rails Productions]
* [http://www.ruwenzori.com.au "Ruwenzori" retreat]