In 1839 she emigrated with her widowed father, her brother Alfred and sister Hannah to Adelaide, South Australia aboard Orleana, arriving in June 1840.

In 1867 she joined the ladies' committee of the Female Refuge, which sheltered single pregnant girls, reformed sex workers, deserted wives and victims of violence.

[1] In 1870 and in 1872 Colton joined deputations pressing the South Australian government to end institutional care and to introduce boarding-out for state children.

Colton remained president of the YWCA for the remainder of her life opening city residential premises and suburban branches and successfully extending religious meetings, clubs and classes to supplement work of the churches.

The magnitude of her efforts for others had made her widely known and respected and this undoubtedly influenced some opinion to support the women's suffrage platform.