William Tainsh became a central figure of the Scottish community in Melbourne through his nostalgic poetry, journal articles and Sunday evening broadcasts on Melbourne radio. He was secretary of the Savage Club (formed in 1894) and produced the club's first revue.
In his Foreword to Special Occasions, Alec Chisholm wrote that 'A wider public has come to look to [Tainsh] for expression of community sentiment in times of commemoration. Others amongst us value most of all the heather-honey taste in his writings...while not neglecting Australian reality, he draws upon Scottish romance... Many Victorians regard William Tainsh as something in the nature of an unofficial Poet Laureate...' In the Australian Dictionary Biography entry for photographer Minnie Louise Moore, whom Tainsh married in 1916, his occupation is given as 'company secretary and poet'. Tainsh also wrote the booklet One Hundred Years: Centenary of William Crosby and Company Pty. Ltd. 1853-1953, illustrated by his son, the noted cartoonist, Douglas Tainsh .
Tainsh also wrote the lyrics of a number of songs, including Port o' Sydney (1922), with music by James Brash, and the Melbourne Olympic Games 'Song of Farewell' (sung to the tune of Waltzing Matilda).
