[1] It was originally described by Bruno Gasparini in 2007 and classified as Cortinarius austrovaginatus based on a holotype specimen collected by mycologist Genevieve Gates at Jackson's Bend, Mt Wellington, Tasmania, Australia.

[3] This Section is of interest because it contains an agaricoid (C. medioscaurus), semi-secotioid (C. austrovaginatus) and a secotioid (C. coneae) species.

[5] The pileus of Thaxterogaster austrovaginatus is up to 60 mm in diameter, with a viscid cuticle, fibrillose, the colour ranges from brown/vinaceous to pale lilac-brown with buff margin, and the cap has remnants of the white veil stained with the rusty spores.

The lamellae are close, moderately thick, adnate, livid vinaceous when young and lilac brown at maturity.

The bulb is marginate, ampullaceous to slightly turbinate, violet, but covered with a white sheath of the universal veil forming a volva.