The present invention discloses an alumina carrier, and a nickel-based catalyst using the alumina carrier as a carrier, a preparation method and applications thereof. The alumina carrier preparation method comprises: carrying out first-stage calcining on pseudo-boehmite at a temperature of 950-1100 DEG C to obtain alumina powder; mixing the obtained alumina powder and pseudo-boehmite according to a mass ratio of 1:4-2:3 (calculated as dry base alumina), adding a glue solvent and an auxiliary agent, carrying out mixing kneading, molding, and drying; and carrying out second-stage calcining at a temperature of 800-950 DEG C to obtain the alumina carrier, wherein the alumina carrier is impregnated with a nickel-containing metal salt solution to obtain the nickel-based catalyst. According to the present invention, the nickel-based catalyst prepared by using the alumina carrier of the present invention can be used for catalyzing high temperature reactions, exhibits good hydrothermal stability especially in the presence of water in the system, and shows good hydrogenation activity, good selectivity and good stability when the nickel-based catalyst is used in the acetal hydrogenation reaction during the 1,4-butanediol purification.