A man has been arrested on the roof of Victoria’s Government House in what is an apparent serious security breach.

Police were called to the official residence of Governor Linda Dessau in central Melbourne next to the Royal Botanic Gardens, about 7.45am on Monday.

A police critical response team arrested the shirtless man just before 8am, a police spokeswoman said in a statement.

Footage from television news cameras show police holding down and arresting a shirtless man on the roof of the Italianate-style building. 

About two hours later, he was transported from the roof by a cherry picker and loaded into a waiting ambulance.

#BREAKING: There are reports a man has tried to break into Government House. #9News pic.twitter.com/sZ4viGoeof

— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) April 30, 2017

The man was taken to the Royal Alfred Hospital for assessment.

Ambulance Victoria said he had been treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Premier Daniel Andrews said tomorrow’s state budget would include $11.5 million for security upgrades at government buildings, including Government House.

“There are so many people visiting there it needs to be the safest precinct possible, and the same goes for a number of other important government buildings,” he said.

“There is a need for the fence to be upgraded and it will be.”

A Government House spokeswoman said Governor Dessau was appreciative of the swift response of emergency services.

The Governor’s Standard flag was not flying from the flag tower on Monday morning, indicating the Governor Dessau was not at home at the time of the security breach.

A Government House spokeswoman said Governor Dessau was currently on an official visit to Singapore and Indonesia.

She said the Governor was appreciative of the swift response of emergency services.

– With ABC, AAP