Australian malls turn to village life as retailers feel pinch

Sydney

AS Australia's local merchants struggle with an influx of global names, leading malls are considering returning to their village centre roots to woo new tenants by moving away from shops and offering medical facilities, more restaurants and even amusement parks.

Several top retailers have recently succumbed to pressure from foreign giants such as Japan's Uniqlo and Sephora of France and with Amazon plotting its debut in the country, the future looks tough.