First-seeded Doris Hart defeated Nancye Bolton 6–3, 6–4 in the final to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1949 Australian Championships.

The seeded players are listed below. Doris Hart is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.

1. Doris Hart (champion)
2. Nancye Bolton (finalist)
3. Thelma Long (semifinals)
4. Joyce Fitch (second round)
5. Mary Hawton (quarterfinals)
6. Sadie Newcombe (quarterfinals)
7. Esme Ashford (second round)
8. Dulcie Whittaker (quarterfinals)

• Q = Qualifier
• WC = Wild card
• LL = Lucky loser
• r = Retired

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Doris Hart	3	6	6
	8	Dulcie Whittaker	6	3	2
								1	Doris Hart	6	6
									Alison Baker	3	1
		Alison Baker	6	1	6
		Marie Toomey	3	6	3
															1	Doris Hart	6	6
															2	Nancye Bolton	3	4
	6	Sadie Newcombe	0	3
	3	Thelma Long	6	6
								3	Thelma Long	4	2
								2	Nancye Bolton	6	6
	5	Mary Hawton	1	1
	2	Nancye Bolton	6	6

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
								1	Hart	6	6
		Moran	6	6					Moran	3	2
		Mason	1	1											1	Hart	3	6	6
	8	Whittaker	6	6											8	Whittaker	6	3	2
		Sheidow	1	2				8	Whittaker	6	6
		Proctor	8	6					Proctor	4	1
		Thiele	6	2																		1	Hart	6	6
	4	Fitch	6	6																			Baker	3	1
		Chamberlin	3	1				4	Fitch	3	4
		Baker							Baker	6	6
		Williams	w/o													Baker	6	1	6
	7	Ashford														Toomey	3	6	3
		Strickland	w/o					7	Ashford	6	2	4
		Toomey	6	6					Toomey	4	6	6
		Nottage	1	0

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
		Hopman	6	6
		Thomas	1	0					Hopman	7	3	0
	6	Newcombe	6	6				6	Newcombe	5	6	6
		Taylor	1	1											6	Newcombe	0	3
		Warnock	6	6											3	Long	6	6
		Traeger	4	4					Warnock	2	1
	3	Long	6	6				3	Long	6	6
		Redwood	2	2																		3	Long	4	2
		Mance	6	6																		2	Bolton	6	6
		Richardson	3	3					Mance	2	4
	5	Hawton						5	Hawton	6	6
		Parkinson	w/o												5	Hawton	1	1
		Jenkins	6	6											2	Bolton	6	6
		Bennett	1	0					Jenkins	1	2
								2	Bolton	6	6

• [1] Source for the draw at ausopen.com