Inferno destroys century-old Melbourne Scout hall

A Melbourne Scout hall has burned down in an inferno deemed suspicious by police.

The Ivanhoe hall, located in Melbourne's east, burned to the ground in less than 30 minutes overnight.

Footage filmed by a bystander shows the 100-year-old building immersed in flames as high as the surrounding trees and homes.

Train services in the area had to be halted for 45 minutes due to the fire's proximity to the tracks.

A crowd of people can be seen in the footage watching on but no one was hurt in the incident.

Police are investigating.