Melbourne may soon be able to boast a truly world-class skyscraper, after a tower designed by legendary architect Zaha Hadid was approved by the Andrews government.

The tiered building, wrapped in white latticework, will rise 54 storeys above the western end of Collins Street.

It has been declared Melbourne's first "destination tower". Its attractiveness as a tourism destination is likely to be magnified by the fact the building was one of the last designed by the world's greatest female architect before her unexpected death aged 65 from a heart attack in March.



The $300 million high-rise at 600 Collins Street will be home to 420 apartments and 10,000 square metres of office and retail space.