The town originated on a farm called De Stompe Hoek that was first called Geytenbergsfontein. Langebaan is one of the oldest towns in South Africa with a history dating back more than 400 years. It has an archaeological history of a few million years. Twelve kilometres east of the farm Elandsfontein, a fossilised skeleton was found that dates back to the Stone age. This fossil deposit is considered to be one of the richest in the world.

Seal hunters from France frequented the area long before the time of Jan van Riebeeck. They used Schaapen Island as their head quarters and for storage of Seal skins and whale oil. This island which is close to the beach was called: "Isle à la Biche" at the time and the name was only changed back to the original about a century ago.

Schaapen Island was also used as a stop over to do repairs to ships. It was also used as a place of grazing for sheep that were then returned to Cape Town by the VOC.

Leentjies klip, where we find a caravan park today, got it's name from a Mr. Lynch, who absconded from his ship in the area. "Lynch se klip" soon became known as "Leentiesklip", a name still used today.

Donkergat was used as a quarantine camp. In later years two fishing companies were established here: Donkergat in 1909 by John Bryde and Salamanderbaai in 1910 by Carl Ellefson.
The P.O.S.I., an oystershell factory, was founded in 1918 where the Yacht Club is today. Remains of the original building forms part of the building where the bar is today.

Langebaan has a colorful history with many old historic buildings. "Oom Rijk Melck" (78) will gladly show you the places where they played as kids. His house, "Greystone", is one of the oldest buildings in Langebaan. As you enter the town, you will find a restaurant called "Tolhuis". This house got it's name because their was a gate in the road next to the house. The children would run to open it for visitors and received a penny for their trouble. As a result, the house earned it's name.

As the flowers from Postberg, throught the West Coast National Park and all over the West Coast, form a tapistry of color and shape, so have the different people and nationalities formed a colorful tapistry. Churchaven, on the opposite side of the lagoon, is a wonderful example of where the past, present and future have merged into a atmosphere of timelessness.

Twaalf kilometer oos van die dorp op die plaas Elandsfontein, is daar ‘n gefossileerde skedel gevind wat uit die Steentydperk dateer. Hierdie fossieleneerslag word alom beskou as van die rykste in sy soort ter wêreld.

Nog voor Jan van Riebeeck se tyd (1623) het Franse robbejagters Langebaan gereeld besoek. Schaapeneiland was hul hoofkwartier en stoorplek vir robbevelle en walvisolie. Hierdie eiland, wat ‘n klipgooi van die strand is, was bekend as "Isle à la Biche" en is ‘n eeu gelede weer na sy oorspronklike en huidige naam herdoop.

Dit was ook by Schaapeneiland waar herstelwerk oorspronlik aan skepe gedoen is.Schaapeneiland is ook gebruik om skape te laat wei, tot 'n VOC skip hulle kom optel het om Kaap toe te neem, vandaar die naam. Leentjiesklip, waar vandag ‘n pragtige karavaanpark op die strand is, het sy naam gekry van ‘n skeepsdroster met die naam Lynch. Lynch se Klip word in die volksmond Leensje se Klip.

As mens na die verskillende nasionalitiete kyk wat in hierdie relatief klein gebied beweeg het, is dit onvermydelik om te sien watter invloed hulle op die koskultuur van die Weskus gehad het. Rolmopsies wat met harders gemaak word en in asyn gepekel word, soos wat die Skandinawiërs dit met haring doen, het waarskynlik sy oorsprong aan hulle te danke. Verskeie Skandanwiërs was gereelde besoekers met nasate wat hier gebly het selfs na die walvisbedryf in 1930 beïndig is.

Donkergat bly ‘n skim op die horison in hierdie deel van Langebaan se verlede. Dit was ook ‘n kwarentynstasie tydens die pokke epidemie. Daar was twee walvis fabrieke: Donkergat 1909 gestig deur Johan Bryde en Salamanderbaai 1910 Carl Ellefson.
Die P.O.S.I, ‘n oesterskulpfabriek, is in 1918 op die plek van die huidige Seiljag Klub bedryf. Oorblyfsels van die oorspronlike fabriek vorm nog deel van die gebou waarin die kroeg nou te vinde is.

Verder het Langebaan met kleurryke geboutjies ‘n ryke geskiedenis en Oom Rijk Melck (78) wys jou graag die plekke wat hulle as kinders geken het. Sy huis "Greystone’ is een van die oudste geboue in Langebaan. So ook is die Tolhuis, (vandag ‘n restaurant soos jy die dorp binnekom) en volgens hom het die sy naam gekry deurdat daar ‘n hek in die grondpad was. As kinders het hulle gehardloop om die hek oop te maak vir voertuie en is dan beloon met ‘n pennie.

Soos die blomme vanaf Postberg dwarsdeur die Weskus Nasionale Park tot in Saldanha ‘n tapisserie van kleur vorm, so ook het die verskillende kulture ‘n tapeserie met interessante mense gevorm, hetsy hulle nou vanaf hulle skepe gedros het of skipbreukelinge was van vergane skepe tot en met die verskeie oorloë. Churchaven aan die oorkant van die lagune is ‘n voorbeeld van so ‘n "settlement" waar die verlede, hede en toekoms in een tydkapsule gaan stilstaan het.