The wrecks of a passenger steamship and a Norwegian merchant vessel, lost for more than 100 years, have been discovered off the coast of WA by WA Museum maritime archaeologists and the crew of hit reality show Shipwreck Hunters Australia.

The SS Rodondo set off from Adelaide in October 1894, ferrying passengers hoping to strike it rich in the WA gold rush.

Instead, a navigational error five days into the voyage saw their boat strike Pollock Reef, sending it to the bottom and killing four passengers.

The remainder, including two children, made it to nearby Salisbury Island, 140km off Esperance, where they had to survive for days until being rescued.

A similarly harrowing tale of survival surrounds the wreck of the Langstone, an iron sailing barque laden with marri and karri timber bound

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