The Barbarians first-five Isaac Thompson, scoring two tries, and second-five Rodney Iona looked dangerous every time they tested the line, while halfback Dewet Roos backed up beautifully, also scoring twice.
Flanker Rowan Perry, lock Ben Hyne and tryscoring captain Ryan Dalziel turned in a fine evening's work.
Trying to be expansive, Australia could have scorched over for a couple more tries if not for a lot of dropped ball.
As expected, Heartland coach Grant Keenan emptied his bench early with all the reserves being on before the final quarter, as the New Zealand team were able to slow the pace down and play more of their style of phase-based offence.
They scored two very good attacking team tries to Perofeta and Thames Valley winger Lance Easton in the last 20 minutes which brought some respectability back to the scoreboard.
As one can imagine with Hudson limping off and Fraser Hammond out with a broken hand, Wanganui and Heartland captain Peter Rowe had a mountain of covering work to do, well supported by Wairarapa Bush loose forward James Goodger when he came on.
Thames Valley midfielder Moss Doran also impressed coming off the bench in the second half, being able to take it to the Australians with his own speed and strength.
Former Wanganui player TK Moeke, now with East Coast, was quick in open play.
"It was definitely a step up from the last game we played," said Rowe afterwards.
"The boys might have thought it was going to be a bit like last time, [Australia] definitely lifted a notch.
"There was good character shown, we just got blown away a bit in the first [quarter]."
A debutant for this series, Horrocks agreed, saying the opening 40 minutes proved very difficult.
"The harder we tried, the worse it got. We probably ran out of steam."
Rowe, after an incredible representative season where he played his 100th Wanganui match, regained the Meads Cup and retained the Heartland captaincy for the fourth year, will now sit down over the summer and decide whether he will continue on at first class level.
Nonethless, just wearing the Silver Fern for a match at home had been a great honour.
"It's been a special week, pretty hectic with three games in six days," Rowe said.
"It's special to play against quality opposition.
"They showed us up in parts. In parts, we showed them what Heartland is all about."
While one career may be approaching the twilight, another is dawning as the 18-year-old Perofeta again received rave reviews from the NZ Heartland coaching staff, noting his rapid improvement even over the previous six days.
Manager Chris Back said Perofeta is perhaps the most gifted Wanganui player since All Black Glen Osborne, while Keenan agreed that if he continues to learn and his body fills out, the Black jersey could be in his future.
It was the teenager's Wanganui swansong as he will now depart for the Clifton club to join the Taranaki academy system.
"I've always looked forward to playing better rugby each time," Perofeta said.
"It's challenging. A bit of pressure at the start, but you learn from it and go for it.
"I guess it's another step towards my ultimate goal.
"It's a bloody good learning [experience] for me - living up to the legacy of this Heartland jersey, and to play alongside these boys."
-Australian Barbarians 40 (D Roos 2, I Thompson 2, R Dalziel, P Asquith tries; Thompson 5 con) bt NZ Heartland XV 24 (H Anderson, S Perofeta, L Easton tries; Perofeta pen, 3 con). HT: 33-10.
