Westfield Bondi Junction will forever be haunted by memories of unspeakable ... trends now

Traumatised shoppers have questioned if Westfield Bondi Junction can ever be the same again after it was the scene of a deadly massacre. 

Five innocent shoppers and a security guard were killed when Joel Cauchi, 40, embarked on a stabbing spree at the busy shopping centre on Saturday. 

On Thursday, members of the public were invited to pay their respects during a sombre 'day of reflection', with hundreds attending and many leaving tributes.  

Others left bouquets of flowers underneath six wreaths of white roses or shared messages with those affected by the tragedy in a condolence book. 

Daily Mail Australia went to Bondi Junction to hear how the public there was recovering from the violent scenes that shocked Australia and the world. 

Rohan Anderson was forced to take cover in Fitness First when shoppers were told to evacuate Westfield Bondi Junction at about 3.30pm on Saturday. 

He told Daily Mail Australia he heard gunshots from inside the gym. 

Mr Anderson returned to the shopping centre to pay his respects to the victims.  

'It was very sombre and very reflective in there today,' he said. 'On the night there was a lot of emotion but in a different way. 

'Lots of fear and the unknown. I think it's the unknown that drives the 'what if' scenarios and creates more fear.

'When you're in the centre and you don't know what's going on, I think it's that sense of 'what if' fear that is the most shocking thing about it.'

Mr Anderson said a day of reflection was the right thing to do for victims.

'I think we're extremely lucky in Australia that this is rare and we have very strong settings around weapons and particularly guns,' he said. 

'That gives me a lot of comfort and a feeling of safety but I think it will take time.'

When asked if security guards should be armed, Mr Anderson said he felt uncomfortable about more weapons in the community. 

'I think the premier has done the right thing in announcing some funding for that. We need to look at it, we need to get the settings right,' he said. 

'I would have felt a lot less safe [that night] if I had known there were more guns out there, no matter whose hands they were in.'

But William and Harriette, who live locally, said they had reservations on returning to the shopping centre when normal trading resumes. 

'I don't think I'll be back for a while,' Harriette said. 

'It's pretty scary that it could happen at any time, anywhere,' William added. 

The pair said it felt 'very eerie' to see Westfield so calm and quiet.  

'It's funny to see all the shops closed,' William said. 

'And everyone's not looking too happy, which reflects what's happened. It's very sad all the women that have passed away and the security guard too. 

Eugenie, who works in Westfield Bondi Junction at Sydney Ultrasound for Women, said the mood at the memorial had been sombre.

Friday marked her first day back at work since the attack on Saturday.

'We are part of this community, we are so devastated for a lot of our patients that work locally and lives within the Sydney region,' she said. 

'This is a very central hub for us all to do everyday tasks whether it's work or it's coming here to shop, to see the dry cleaner.

'So you don't really have a choice not to come back here. 

'But I think it is important to return and let everyone know it's our place and we're going to make it very safe and very special for the lives that were lost.'

Eugenie said the community was making their support clear after a 'horrific event'. 

'The community has very heavy hearts for what's happened. It's hard to come back here when you know some family members haven't made it home,' she said.

Alice, who works in one the shops in Bondi Junction, revealed she had narrowly avoided being caught up in the stabbing spree on Saturday. 

'I usually work a lot of weekends, but I was away,' she said. 

'So finding out... I just

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