Economic and cultural shifts in rural Queensland

I am spending most of today in Warwick, a small town outside Brisbane. My wife is at a Council meeting of the Queensland and Northern NSW branch of CMS.
I noticed something striking and sad.
Most of the shops and restaurants on the main street are virtually empty. These appear to be largely locally owned and unique to Warwick.

In contrast, if you walk inside the shopping mall, also located on the main street, it is incredibly crowded and busy. Unfortunately, it looks like any other Australian shopping mall and comprise corporate franchises from the usual cast of characters...
I fear that in ten years only the shopping mall will be left.
I fail to see how this can be a good thing.