Sorry, Leadfingers.

Riginslinger, Bob Bolton (who has huge files at his fingertips) will probably correct me on this but my recollection is that deportation of convicts from Britain to Oz colonies ended in the late 1840s. Different colonies may have ended transportation at different times. Wikipedia might have some details but I am short of time just at the moment.

It certainly wasn't continued after gold was discovered in Oz in 1851, as Australia rapidly became regarded as a desirable place to get to by much of the British population; ships' crews deserted as soon as they reached port at Geelong, for example.

Cheers, Rowan