Tocal Homestead Tours

We’d been looking forward to this excursion all year, and it definitely lived up to the hype. We spent the day at Tocal Homestead for their Study of Change in History program—a four-hour, hands-on look at life in the early to mid-1800s. The kids rotated through a range of activities that helped them experience what daily life was like for children of the time. They hand-washed clothes, collected water using buckets and a yoke (a great reminder of life without plumbing), and learned how to properly set a table. They also explored the kinds of entertainment families enjoyed after meals in the parlour and discovered why men’s and women’s chairs were designed differently. There were plenty of practical demonstrations too (by some outstanding staff dressed in time period appropriate attire): trying on hand-me-down clothing with braces, playing traditional Sunday games, learning how butter, cream, and buttermilk were made, and seeing how baths and ironing were done before modern appliances existed. They found out why kitchens were separate from the main house, explored a blacksmith’s workshop, toured the homestead, visited some of the animals, and heard many colourful—and often very funny—stories from Tocal’s past. Our son and his homeschool co-op had an absolute blast. He came home happily worn out and with a whole new appreciation for the conveniences we enjoy today—especially the washing machine! Highly recommend this excursion for schools and homeschool groups alike. The staff were so wonderful with our early primary aged kids and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience to give them a real glimpse into early Australian history. Could have easily given it 10 stars out of 5. We are already looking at another one of their programs for the future.