The invention relates to the technical field of preparation of a nickel-based catalyst with a mechanochemical method, and relates to a nickel-based catalyst for hydrogenation synthesis of 1,4-butanediol from 1,4-butynediol and a preparation method of the nickel-based catalyst. The nickel-based catalyst is prepared by the following steps: weighing the required amount of nickel nitrate hexahydrate,nickel acetate or nickel chloride, aluminum nitrate nonahydrate, aluminum acetate or aluminum chloride, ammonium carbonate or urea, performing ball milling with grinding balls, and performing drying to obtain a precursor sample; roasting the precursor sample at high temperature to obtain a catalyst roasted body sample; performing high-temperature reduction with H2 to obtain the nickel-based catalyst for hydrogenation synthesis of 1,4-butanediol from 1,4-butynediol. The method for preparing the nickel-based catalyst is simple and easy to implement, the prepared nickel-based catalyst has particle size of about 80 nm-120 nm, and has narrow distribution and good selectivity; the conversion rate of 1,4-butynediol and the yield of 1,4-butanediol are both high, the preparation cost is low, and industrialization is easy.