The 2016 census has a population of 44 for the state suburb of Macquarie Plains.

The locality was named in honour of New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

[2] The Derwent River forms most of the western boundary, all of the southern, and part of the eastern.

The Derwent Valley rail line passes through from south-east to west.

[3] The B61 route (Gordon River Road) enters from the north-east and runs through to the west, where it exits.