First-seeded Nancye Bolton defeated Marie Toomey 6–3, 6–1 in the final to win the women's singles tennis title at the 1948 Australian Championships.

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

1. Nancye Bolton (champion)
2. Thelma Long (second round)
3. Mary Bevis (semifinals)
4. Marie Toomey (finalist)
5. Pat Jones (second round)
6. Nell Hopman (quarterfinals)
7. Sadie Newcombe (second round)
8. Dulcie Whittaker (first round)

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

	Quarterfinals							Semifinals							Finals
	1	Nancye Bolton	6	6
		Joan Tuckfield	2	0
								1	Nancye Bolton	6	6
								3	Mary Beavis	3	4
	3	Mary Beavis	7	6
	6	Nell Hopman	5	4
															1	Nancye Bolton	6	6
															4	Marie Toomey	3	1
		Dorothy Jenkins	6	3
	4	Marie Toomey	8	6
								4	Marie Toomey	4	7	6
									Esme Ashford	6	5	4
		Esme Ashford	6	6
		Clare Proctor	1	0

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
								1	Bolton	6	6
									Earle	1	0
															1	Bolton	6	6
		Martin														Tuckfield	2	0
	8	Whittaker	w/o						Martin	5	3
		Tuckfield	3	9	6				Tuckfield	7	6
		Thiele	6	7	4																	1	Bolton	6	6
	3	Beavis	6	6																		3	Beavis	3	4
		Murphy	2	2				3	Beavis	6	6
		McDermott	6	6					McDermott	2	4
		Linehan	0	0											3	Beavis	7	6
	6	Hopman	6	6											6	Hopman	5	4
		Schultz	0	0				6	Hopman	6	6
		Baker	6	8					Baker	1	3
		Taylor	4	6

	First round							Second round							Quarterfinals							Semifinals
		Jenkins	6	6
		Radford	3	0					Jenkins	3	6	6
	5	Jones	6	6				5	Jones	6	3	4
		Jackson	0	2												Jenkins	8	6
		Moran	6	6											4	Toomey	6	3
		Longton	2	1					Moran	w/o
	4	Toomey	6	6				4	Toomey
		Griffiths	0	0																		4	Toomey	4	7	6
		Ashford	6	4	6																		Ashford	6	5	4
		Chamberlin	2	6	2				Ashford	6	4	7
	7	Newcombe	6	6				7	Newcombe	0	6	5
		Johnston	1	0												Ashford	6	6
																Proctor	1	0
									Proctor
								2	Long	w/o

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