The Block Arcade, Mark Strizic, 1967.
Melbourne's shoppers flocked to the new shopping phenomenon – the arcade. Modelled on those in Europe, arcades were clean and modern, and they protected shoppers from the weather. Their architectural design facilitated new ways to display and purchase fancy goods. The modern shopping arcade enabled the buyer to indulge in the pleasures of looking, touching and contemplating goods without any pressure to make a purchase. Browsing became an accepted and expected pastime and evolved into new leisure behaviour.