Just as the original design for Federation Square polarised many when it was first unveiled, Melburnians are divided over plans to demolish a building at Federation Square to make way for an Apple store.

Some visitors to the square on Thursday were strongly opposed to the plan, announced by the State Government on Wednesday, to replace the Yarra building with a flagship store for the tech giant flanking the river.

An artist's impression of the new Apple flagship store to be built at Federation Square in Melbourne.

“I think it is insanely stupid,” said Chloe O’Brien of Bayswater.

“They are taking down something that is monumental, that is Melbourne’s culture, and they are replacing it with an Apple store when there is one down the street already.”