Mr Wollongong

Between 1974 and 1991 Frank Arkell was the flamboyant mayor of Wollongong. But his name is forever associated with the infamy of being accused of being part of a paedophile ring. In a sensational twist, he was murdered in his home. As the mayor of a major industrial hub, Arkell had ambitious visions of how the city could transform itself into a tourism destination with a more refined profile, and applied himself to promoting his plans with relentless conviction. But his darker side became increasingly public knowledge. Historian Erik Eklund, who grew up in Wollongong, has written a biography of Arkell that explains his background, his impact and his legacy.

You can listen to Mr Wollongong online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Mr Wollongong is an episode from Life Sentences Podcast by Caroline Baum.

This episode is 61:21 long.

This episode was published on Mar 5, 2026.

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