Here Arcades were a very new and modern idea for shopping in the late 1800s. Like an old English High Street but roofed over and protected from the weather. Every major city had at least one, they were the greatest innovation in modern shopping in that era and changed the way in which people think about shopping.
And Australia tends to hang on to it's heritage and history rather than knocking it down and building over it.
But what operation goes on within one of your "arcades" ? Anything in particular, or just something general relative to retail.
Here arcades or penny arcades became gaming places. Usually associate with pinball machines evolving from mechanical devices to electronic ones. At least that's been my own observation from the east to west coasts.
I always remember "Seawalls" the most though. In downtown San Francisco across from Pier One. A seriously designed arcade rivaling ones at the beginning of the 20th century. All very old, and all mechanical machines to have fun with. I loved it. A true old-fashioned arcade.