He was educated at Catholic schools, where he met and formed lifelong friendships with Christopher Brennan and E. J.

Quinn began publishing his poetry in The Bulletin during the 1890s and continued to do so for the rest of his life, writing over 1200 individual pieces in all.

In his latter years he was receiving a full Commonwealth Literary pension and a special weekly grant from the government of NSW.

"[4] On the subject of his verse, The Western Mail referred to his "poetic genius", and stated that he "occupies a high place amongst lyricists of the Commonwealth.

"[5] Norman Lindsay summed up Quinn's position: "That Rod was what he was defines the small place his poetry takes in this country's literary tradition.