The Sydney shopping centre where six people were killed in a knife attack reopened its doors on Thursday, with visitors grieving and walking past rows of shops still closed to pay their respects to the victims.
Shops will reopen as normal on Friday, almost a week after a 40-year-old man carried out a deadly attack in the vast Westfield Bondi Junction shopping complex.
However, Thursday's partial reopening was billed as an opportunity for affected Sydneysiders to mourn.
It is an opportunity to express our solidarity, our condolences and to "turn the page on what has been a very difficult time" for the city, said New South Wales Government Leader Chris Minns. He said it is a "first step towards healing".
Throughout the week, many people laid flowers outside the shopping centre, which is usually packed with families who come to do their shopping but on Thursday, the crowds were considerably smaller.
The digital screens that once displayed flashy advertisements and maps to help shoppers find their way around the labyrinthine complex have been replaced by pixelated black ribbons on a plain white background.
In one hall, white wreaths frame a message of remembrance and a simple white table on which were bouquets and a book for visitors to leave a few words.
Australia: Sydney shopping centre reopens five days after knife attack
