By the Cape Chronicle Historical Desk
Along the windswept coastline between Saldanha Bay and the mouth of the Berg River lies a remarkable story of migration, enterprise and survival. It is the story of the Carosini family — an Italian-descended family whose name became woven into the economic and social fabric of South Africa’s Cape West Coast.
Their journey mirrors the history of the region itself: a coastline shaped by fishing boats and factories, by humble fishermen and ambitious entrepreneurs, by salt air and hard work. From Laaiplek’s harbour to the whitewashed streets of Paternoster, the Carosini name became associated not only with business success but with preserving the character of a disappearing West Coast hospitality tradition.
A New Life on an Old Coast
The Cape West Coast has always attracted outsiders.
For centuries, the coastline between Cape Town and the Orange River was a meeting place of indigenous communities, European explorers, fishermen, farmers and traders. The Benguela Current brought rich marine life, creating one of the most productive fishing regions in the world.
The villages that developed along this coast were built around survival. Paternoster became known for its fishermen’s cottages and lobster industry, while Laaiplek developed around the Berg River and its harbour.
By the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, immigrants from Europe were arriving in South Africa seeking opportunity. Among them were Italians, many of whom brought maritime skills, entrepreneurial instincts and a strong family culture.
The Carosinis were part of this migration story.
Although detailed immigration records of the earliest Carosini arrivals remain difficult to trace, genealogical evidence places the family firmly within the Italian-descended communities that established themselves on the West Coast during this period.
They settled among communities where fishing, trade and small businesses were the foundations of local life.
Laaiplek: Where the Carosini Story Took Root
The family’s strongest early association was with Laaiplek, today part of the greater Velddrif area.
The name Laaiplek itself tells the story of its origins — literally a “loading place”, where goods and produce were transferred for transport. The area became an important centre for fishing, dried fish production and maritime trade.
Before modern roads and refrigeration transformed the fishing industry, the West Coast depended on practical knowledge passed from generation to generation.
Families worked around the rhythm of the sea:
- fishermen went out before dawn;
- catches were landed at the harbour;
- fish was processed, dried or transported;
- local businesses supported the industry.
The Carosinis became part of this commercial landscape.
Local memories of Laaiplek and Velddrif recall the family as part of the town’s business community during the growth of the fishing economy. One remembered local saying captured the attitude of the time: the smell from fish factories was not a nuisance — it was “the smell of money”.
For families such as the Carosinis, the fishing industry represented opportunity.
Johan Carosini: The Hotelier Who Changed Paternoster
The individual who would transform the family name into a West Coast legend was Johan Carosini.
Born in Laaiplek in 1939, Johan grew up surrounded by the traditions of the coast. His Italian heritage, combined with the practical culture of a fishing community, shaped his approach to business and hospitality. (Paternoster Hotel)
In the 1960s, Johan and his wife Wilna Carosini entered the hotel industry.
Their first major experience came at the Hoedjiesbaai Hotel in Saldanha Bay, where they developed their skills in managing guests, food service and coastal tourism. They later became involved with the Elands Bay Hotel, continuing their journey as West Coast hoteliers. (Paternoster Hotel)
At the time, tourism on the West Coast was still in its infancy.
The region was known primarily for fishing, farming and seasonal holidaymakers. Few could have predicted that a small fishing village like Paternoster would one day become one of South Africa’s most internationally recognised coastal destinations.
The Paternoster Hotel: A Building With Many Lives
The history of the Paternoster Hotel predates the Carosini family.
The original structure dates back to 1863, when Paternoster itself was developing as a fishing settlement. Built using local limestone, the building served various community purposes before becoming a hotel. At different times it functioned as a public gathering place and even holding cells.
The building reflected the character of the village: practical, modest and connected to local life.
In 1940, the building became a hotel. Over subsequent decades it changed ownership several times.
Then came the turning point.
In 1973, Johan Carosini purchased the hotel from Hendrik de Goede.
The Carosinis did not simply run a hotel.
They created an experience.
Building the Carosini Legacy
Under Johan and Wilna’s leadership, the Paternoster Hotel became famous for something that could not be bought: personality.
Guests were not treated as anonymous visitors. They became part of the story.
Johan’s reputation grew as a storyteller, entertainer and host. His knowledge of local characters, fishing traditions and village history became part of the hotel’s identity. (Paternoster Hotel)
At a time when large international tourism developments were becoming fashionable, the Carosinis offered something different:
A genuine West Coast welcome.
The hotel became a place where fishermen, holidaymakers, businessmen and travellers shared the same spaces.
The walls collected stories.
The Birth of the Panty Bar Legend
Perhaps the most unusual chapter in the Carosini story began in 1974.
According to the hotel’s own historical account, Johan started collecting honeymoon underwear left behind by guests in the hotel bar. What began as a humorous tradition developed into the famous Panty Bar, a curiosity that attracted visitors from across South Africa and beyond. (Paternoster Hotel)
The tradition was not without controversy.
In 1983, the collection was removed after complaints were made to authorities. The incident became part of local folklore, and the collection was eventually revived in later years. (Paternoster Hotel)
Whether viewed as eccentric, amusing or controversial, the Panty Bar represented something important about the Carosini approach:
They understood that tourism was not only about accommodation.
It was about stories.
The Next Generation Takes Over
The Carosini legacy continued into the next generation.
In 2002, Johan’s eldest son Giorello Carosini became co-owner of the Paternoster Hotel. (Paternoster Hotel)
After Johan and Wilna retired in 2016, Giorello and his wife Elmare continued managing the property, modernising the business while maintaining its historic character. (Paternoster Hotel)
This transition represented more than a family business handover.
It reflected a broader challenge facing heritage properties across South Africa:
How do you modernise without destroying the very thing that made a place special?
The Carosinis chose continuity.
The Carosinis and the Transformation of the West Coast
The rise of Paternoster as a tourism destination cannot be attributed to one family alone.
The village was shaped by fishermen, artists, restaurateurs, conservationists, entrepreneurs and residents who protected its unique identity.
However, the Carosinis played a significant role in introducing visitors to the village.
Before Paternoster became associated with boutique accommodation, seafood restaurants and luxury tourism, it was a working fishing settlement.
The Paternoster Hotel became a bridge between two worlds:
- the old fishing village;
- the emerging tourism destination.
The Carosinis helped ensure that visitors experienced more than scenery. They experienced local culture.
A Family Beyond Hospitality
Although Johan Carosini became famous through hospitality, the wider Carosini family has contributed to South African business in other fields.
Descendants have continued into industry and commerce, reflecting the entrepreneurial tradition established by earlier generations.
The family story therefore follows a familiar South African pattern:
Immigrants arrive.
They establish roots.
Their children build upon those foundations.
Their names become connected with places.
The Meaning of the Carosini Legacy
The Carosini story is ultimately not only about a hotel.
It is about belonging.
The family arrived as outsiders, yet became part of the identity of the Cape West Coast. They experienced the same challenges faced by many coastal communities: changing economies, declining traditional industries and the pressures of modern tourism.
Their success came from understanding something fundamental:
A place is not made memorable by buildings alone.
It is made memorable by people.
The fishermen who worked the waters.
The families who built businesses.
The hosts who welcomed strangers.
The storytellers who preserved memories.
For nearly half a century, the Carosini family helped tell the story of Paternoster — a story written in limestone cottages, fishing boats, hotel verandas and the endless Atlantic wind.
