The name Apunyal is an Aboriginal word meaning large plain.[8]
Macalister Post Office opened on 1 July 1880 (a receiving office had been open from 1876, known as Jimbour Creek until 1878) and closed in 1980.[9]
Ranges Bridge Provisional School opened circa 1886 and closed in June 1894. The school building was then relocated and reopened as Macalister Provisional School on 27 August 1894. On 1 January 1909, it became Macalister State School. In 1913, it was renamed Apunyal State School. It closed circa 1935.[10] It was on the western corner of the junction of the Warrego Highway and Pirrinuan Apunyal Road (approx 27°04′13″S151°06′27″E / 27.07019°S 151.10762°E / -27.07019; 151.10762 (Apunyal State School (former))).[11][12]
In the 2006 census, the locality of Macalister and the surrounding area had a population of 486 people.[14]
In the 2016 census, the locality of Macalister had a population of 153 people.[15]
In the 2021 census, the locality of Macalister had a population of 156 people.[1]
Education
There are no schools in Macalister. The nearest primary schools are Jimbour State School in neighbouring Jimbour East to the north-east, Warra State School in neighbouring Warra to the north-west, Dalby State School in neighbouring Dalby to the south-east and Kogan State School in neighbouring Kogan to the west. The nearest secondary schools are Jandowae State School (to Year 10) in Jandowae to the north and Dalby State High School (to Year 12) in Dalby.[4]