That should work, at least this small example does

main.qml
Qt Code:
  1. import QtQuick 2.0
  2.  
  3. Rectangle {
  4. width: 200
  5. height: 200
  6. color: "lightsteelblue"
  7.  
  8. Loader {
  9. source: "loaded.qml"
  10. }
  11. }
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loaded.qml
Qt Code:
  1. import QtQuick 2.0
  2.  
  3. Rectangle {
  4. width: 40
  5. height: 40
  6. color: "red"
  7.  
  8. LocalItem {
  9. anchors.centerIn: parent
  10. width: 20
  11. height: 20
  12. }
  13. }
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LocalItem.qml
Qt Code:
  1. import QtQuick 2.0
  2.  
  3. Rectangle {
  4. color: "yellow"
  5. }
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You could try importing the directory
Qt Code:
  1. import "." as Local
  2.  
  3. Local.AnotherItem {
  4. }
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Cheers,
_