Tocal College will host a regiment of red coats for a Peek into the Past

Volunteer organiser at Tocal College, Sandy Earle, said Tocal's Peek into the Past will show people what it was like to live in the Hunter way back when.

"The philosophy is to make the site come alive with all sorts of people and trades and food from days gone by," she said.

"We have the blacksmith working, we've got old fashioned games, things that kids and families might get involved with. History talks, bushranger talks, whip cracking."

However, the main attraction for this annual event is the regiment of redcoat reenactors who come up from Sydney.

Ms Earle said that the reenactors bring along a canon that they fire, horses they patrol the college with and weapons from the 1800's.

All of the different displays that will be shown at Tocal are tied to the history of the college and the land it sits on.

Tocal Homestead was established 201 years ago in 1822. Since then the homestead has had four owners.

Ms Earle said that the majority of these owners used the homestead to farm and/or breed horses until in 1947 when it was changed into a college after the previous owners passed away.

"It's had a very busy agricultural history," Ms Earle said.

"It's been a matter of changing uses of the place. This is the most that it's ever been open to the public. We love people coming along and enjoying what we have to offer."

Ms Earle said that the college hosts days like the Peek into the Past to help people understand how things became the way they are today.

"The past is fascinating. The past isn't necessarily old and dusty, it gives us some sort of understanding of how things became the way they are and what things people used to do," she said.

"There's nothing more pleasing than seeing grandparents talking to their grandkids about a tractor or something they've seen or some things they've eaten in the past."

The main way that this history of Tocal Homestead and College will be shown on the day is through the many history talks that will be held during the event.

Alongside this, the sheep shearer and blacksmith will be using tools from the 1800's to demonstrate how these jobs were done in a time before modern technology.

However Ms Earle's favourite part of the Peek into the Past is the vast array of heritage foods and cooking materials.

"I'm quite interested in the food. We have heritage food, scones fresh out of the 190-year-old wood stove, it's still cooking pretty good scones after all these years," she said.

"There's traditional recipe gramma pies, homemade goodies for sale, ploughman's lunches and of course the mandatory sausage sizzle. It's a great way to step back in time."

Australian whip cracking champion Andrew Thomas will also be demonstrating his whip cracking abilities.

There will also be heritage clothing parades, machinery demonstrations, glass blowing and plenty of animals on display.

The Peek into the Past will kick off on Sunday, July 30 at 10am. Tickets are $18.

For more information visit the Tocal College Facebook page.