Rethinking pedestrian streets and public space activation.

The rise and fall of pedestrian malls in Australia

Pedestrian malls were once seen as the solution to urban retail decline, removing vehicles to create car-free shopping destinations. Yet many pedestrian-only streets in Australia have failed to meet expectations. Places like Hunter Street Mall in Newcastle, City Walk in Civic Canberra, and the only just recently pedestrianised Acland Street in St Kilda have struggled to sustain foot traffic, leading to under-activation, increased vacancy rates and anti-social behaviour.

Why did pedestrian malls fail?

• Low surrounding density — unlike European cities, many Australian towns and suburbs lack the residential density needed to sustain pedestrian-only streets.
• Poor activation strategies — without consistent events and diverse retail offerings, pedestrian malls can feel lifeless.
• Loss of passing trade — vehicles provide incidental exposure to businesses; when removed, retailers must work harder to attract customers.
• Competition — Australia, compared to Europe, has significantly higher per capita retail floor space due to convenient shopping centres for car-based communities.

While pedestrian malls still thrive in high-density cities with strong public transport networks, such as Strøget in Copenhagen, they are often not the right solution for Australian contexts. City Walk in Canberra was closed to cars in the 1960s and now suffers significant vacancy and reduced visitation.

The case for shared streets

Rather than banning vehicles outright, shared streets offer a better balance between pedestrianisation and accessibility. By allowing slow-moving vehicles, shared streets maintain retail visibility while prioritising pedestrian comfort. Some streets even operate as shared streets without official designation by council.

What makes shared streets work?

• Slow vehicle speeds, 10–20 km/h — creates a pedestrian-priority environment.
• Flexible use spaces — streets can host markets and dining zones, or enable street closures for event spaces when needed.
• Passive surveillance — having vehicles and pedestrians together increases natural monitoring, making spaces feel safer.

Case studies

• The little streets of Melbourne (Little Collins, Little Bourke and Flinders Lane), while not official shared streets, they function like one, balancing walkability with vehicle access and fostering retail success.
• Fort Street precinct, Auckland — a number of street conversions led to a significant increase in pedestrian visitation, and retail sales increased by 50%.
• Acland Street, St Kilda, Melbourne — in 2016 Acland Street was closed to car traffic between Belford and Barkly Streets, with the tram stop rebuilt. By 2023 Acland Street had a vacancy rate of 27%, the highest vacancy of any Melbourne retail strip in 20 years.
• Michigan Street, South Bend, Indiana — retail sales increased by 20% after being reopened to slow-moving traffic.
• Jefferson Street, Burlington, Iowa — when the pedestrianised street was reopened to shared traffic, the ground floor vacancy rate reduced from 80% to 20%.
• Manhattan, New York — the NYC Complete Streets program has converted numerous streets into shared zones, such as the Meatpacking District and SoHo, with outcomes of increased pedestrian activity and retail sales increases between 20% and 140%.

How public space programming transforms retail success

A street without activation is like a theatre without a performance, it lacks life. Programming plays a critical role in ensuring public spaces remain engaging, drawing in both locals and visitors alike. The best retail precincts invest in ongoing activation strategies that turn streets into destinations.

What types of programming work best?

• Daily micro-activations — street performers, pop-up stalls and alfresco dining zones keep foot traffic steady.
• Seasonal events and festivals — Christmas markets, music festivals and food pop-ups create a sense of excitement.
• Community-driven activities — local artists, youth events and sports activations build stronger connections.

• Rouse Hill Town Centre, Sydney — a mixed-use model where regular events sustain high levels of foot traffic.
• The Canopy, Lane Cove — this circa 5,000 sqm public space opened in 2019. With a playground, water play, performance stage and village green surrounded by food and beverage, the regular programming from weekly to school holiday and seasonal events has been critical to the success.
• Klyde Warren Park, Dallas — the park was built over a freeway dividing the downtown and now attracts over 10 million visitors per annum. It is estimated that the park has had a $2.5 billion economic impact since its opening in 2012, due to increasing property values and tax revenues. Some property values increased by 65% within a few years of the park opening.

The future of pedestrian streets in Australian cities

Rather than pursuing full pedestrianisation, Australian cities should focus on hybrid models that integrate flexible street design, strong retail curation and high-quality programming.

Designing for success

• Emphasise mixed-use development — ensure retail streets have a blend of uses, including residential, educational, civic, commercial and cultural spaces.
• Prioritise human-scale activation — streets must feel comfortable, with ample seating, shade and visual interest.
• Invest in regular programming — events, performances and activations create a dynamic, ever-changing street life.
• Adopt shared street principles — allow slow-moving vehicles, while prioritising pedestrian safety and comfort.