Apple’s plan for a “flagship” store at Federation Square, to be created by demolishing one of the square’s original buildings, was largely complete almost two years ago, a confidential government report given to The Age shows.

The report, drawings from mid-2016 and undated pictures of an architectural model of the proposed building show a largely unchanged project from designs released by the Andrews government at Christmas.

A design review of the project from May 2016, marked confidential and written by the Victorian Government Architect, indicates overwhelming support for the plan then.

An artist's impression of the planned two-storey Apple flagship shop.

It also flags an intention to involve one of the original architects of Federation Square, Donald Bates, who is said to be likely to “bring invaluable, intelligent and positive critique to the project”.