 By 1838, it was a prison for children.123 Parkhurst apprentices were sent to the Colony of New Zealand in 1842 and 1843, and a total of almost 1500 boys between the ages of 12 and 18 years were sent to various colonies in Australia and New Zealand.Swan River Colony (Western Australia) received 234 between 1842 and 1849, then chose to accept adult convicts as well.