The iconic Nylex building in Melbourne's south-east has been defaced with swastikas and other symbols of hate. Residents woke to the painted black symbols earlier this week.

Up to eight large swastikas, each up to a metre tall, are painted on the edge of the silos underneath the famous Cremorne clock.

The graffiti also includes the numbers 1488, a combination of two white supremacist numeric symbols: 14, shorthand for the 14 Words slogan; and 88, which stands for Heil Hitler (H being the eighth letter of the alphabet).

"The graffiti is on private property that we currently cannot access, so we will be working with the site developers to ensure safe removal as soon as possible," a spokesman said.

The vandalism comes after Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich in August said there had been an "epidemic" of swastikas across Melbourne.

Dr. Abramovich said the vandalism had reached unprecedented levels. Aliza's Place Cafe in Chadstone was targeted twice in two days. An elderly care facility in Caulfield which houses Holocaust survivors was defaced. Banners belonging to Josh Frydenberg and other political candidates were repeatedly defaced during the last federal election.