It has rough, stringy bark on the trunk and branches, lance-shaped to curved adult leaves, flower buds in groups of between seven and eleven, white flowers and cup-shaped, barrel-shaped or hemispherical fruit.Eucalyptus mckieana is a tree that typically grows to a height of 25–30 m (82–98 ft) and forms a lignotuber.

[2][3][4][5] Eucalyptus mckieana was first formally described in 1930 by William Blakely in Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales from specimens collected on the upper part of the Gwydir River.

[6][7] The specific epithet honours "Ernest Norman McKie, B.A., Presbyterian Minister at Guyra, N.S.W., who, by his intimate field and botanical knowledge of the New England Eucalypts, has helped in the elucidation of this and other species of this most economic genus.

"[7] McKie's stringybark grows in dry forest on low hills and gentle slopes on the drier western side of the New England Tableland between Torrington and Bendemeer.

The main threats to the species include land clearing, timber harvesting, firewood collection and road works.