The rise of shopping malls and arcades in the 1980s saw the mixing of Australians from all walks of life – and Network Ten soap opera Arcade capitalised on the eccentricities of this fertile public space.

In this clip, new and old perceptions of Australia collide in a gossipy melting pot. The proprietors and shop assistants of different stores mingle over the morning rush, from Asian-Australian restaurateurs, the haughty owner of a dry cleaner's (Aileen Britton) and the managers of a newfangled pinball arcade.

Though the series leans on broad racial caricature – particularly in the case of the outrageously dressed but sweet Hungarian gift shop owner Magda Yokochek – the scene reflects the multicultural scope of Australia at the time. Of note is the distinctions made between second-gen immigrants and their family members who were born overseas, and the representation of a wheelchair-user who asserts her agency.

The premise and social dynamics in Arcade represent mainstream attempts to capture a changing Australia, and the impact of immigrants and global trends on culture. Beyond the communities flocking to the arcades, the textures of Space Invaders posters, clashing attire and diverse cuisine reflected a changing world. Despite the expensive production values of Arcade, the soap failed to find an audience and aired for a little over a month in 1980.