The fruitbodies of this fungus have convex to flattened caps with diameters typically in the range 5 to 7.5 cm (2.0 to 3.0 in), although specimens up to 30 cm (12 in) have been noted.
There is no discernible odour.
The cap colour is whitish with brown tints, and ragged fragments of the partial veil often remain attached to the cap margin.
The stipe is bulbous, with dimensions of 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 3.7–6.2 cm (1.5–2.4 in), although it is often much smaller than this.
The gills on the cap underside have an initially adnate attachment to the stipe and pale straw colour; later, the gill attachment becomes sinuate to nearly free, and colour deepens to rusty brown as the spores mature.
The gills can be up to 1 cm (0.4 in) deep.
Remnants of a ring often persist on the stipe until maturity, as well as bits of the universal veil that once enclosed the immature mushroom.
The ring is often stained dark brown from the spores falling from the gills.
The ellipsoid to almond-shaped spores measure 10–13 by 5.4–6.9 µm, and turn yellowish brown in KOH.
Western Australian specimens have slightly larger spores, averaging 11.1 by 5.9 µm.

The edibility of this mushroom is unknown, and it should be avoided, as some of its close relatives contain lethal toxins.
Young fruitbodies of C. australiensis can resemble those of Amanita ovoidea.
C. australiensis can be mistaken for the similar-looking dumpy webcap (Cortinarius sublargus), though the latter species is generally smaller, lacks the prominent ring and generally only grows in recently burnt areas.
The fruitbodies of this fungus have convex to flattened caps with diameters typically in the range 5 to 7.5 cm (2.0 to 3.0 in), although specimens up to 30 cm (12 in) have been noted. There is no discernible odour. The cap colour is whitish with brown tints, and ragged fragments of the partial veil often remain attached to the cap margin. The stipe is bulbous, with dimensions of 15 cm (5.9 in) long and 3.7–6.2 cm (1.5–2.4 in), although it is often much smaller than this. The gills on the cap underside have an initially adnate attachment to the stipe and pale straw colour; later, the gill attachment becomes sinuate to nearly free, and colour deepens to rusty brown as the spores mature. The gills can be up to 1 cm (0.4 in) deep. Remnants of a ring often persist on the stipe until maturity, as well as bits of the universal veil that once enclosed the immature mushroom. The ring is often stained dark brown from the spores falling from the gills. The ellipsoid to almond-shaped spores measure 10–13 by 5.4–6.9 µm, and turn yellowish brown in KOH. Western Australian specimens have slightly larger spores, averaging 11.1 by 5.9 µm.
The edibility of this mushroom is unknown, and it should be avoided, as some of its close relatives contain lethal toxins. Young fruitbodies of C. australiensis can resemble those of Amanita ovoidea. C. australiensis can be mistaken for the similar-looking dumpy webcap (Cortinarius sublargus), though the latter species is generally smaller, lacks the prominent ring and generally only grows in recently burnt areas.
Cortinarius australiensis