A 19-year-old waitress has been injured when part of a building collapsed in one of Melbourne’s best-known lanes.

The woman was walking through Centre Place between Collins Street and Flinders Lane when a large piece of debris fell and struck her on the head.

Centre Place links Flinders and Collins streets.

Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley said the woman suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

Firefighters believed the debris was an old tile sign attached to the facade of the building and had fallen from a height of about 10 metres.