The suburb was named after the Berserker Range, which, in turn, was named by Rockhampton pioneer pastoralist Charles Archer after the Norse warrior "Baresark", who fought without armour in the Norwegian sagas.[2] Although born in Scotland, the Archer family lived for many years in Larvik, Norway and members of the family moved between Queensland and Norway throughout their lives.
St Mary's Catholic Primary School was opened in 1900 by the Sisters of Mercy but was initially known as the North Rockhampton Roman Catholic School or St Francis' School. Initially the school operated from St Mary's Church then on Lakes Creek Road. In 1905, the school moved to the corner of Nobbs Street and Charles Street. In 1921 the school became known as St Mary's, possibly linked to the move of St Mary's Church to Nobbs Street (now adjacent to the school). In 1976 the first lay principal, Ron Rosentreter, was appointed.[4][5]
Berserker State School opened in 1917 using a new design in which the two wings made an acute angle with the line of the front of the main building.[6] Later that the year it was renamed Berserker Street State School.[7] On 18 February 1957, a separate Berserker Street Infants State School was opened but it was closed on 1 July 1994.[7][8]
Berserker Street State School is a government primary (Preparatory to Year 6) school for boys and girls at 128–140 Berserker Street (23°21′55″S150°31′48″E / 23.3654°S 150.5299°E / -23.3654; 150.5299 (Berserker Street State School)).[17][18] It includes a special education program.[17] In 2015, the school had an enrolment of 490 students with 38 teachers (36 full-time equivalent).[19] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 516 students with 39 teachers (37 full-time equivalent) and 42 non-teaching staff (28 full-time equivalent).[20] The 1917 building with the unusual design is still extant at 2021.[21]
Rockhampton Regional Council also manage the Bauhinia House Senior Citizens' Centre - a function centre with a maximum capacity of 300 people.[27] Situated at 237 Berserker Street, it was officially opened on 9 December 1981 by Queensland's minister for health Brian Austin.[28]